Main entry:

Kotkin, Joel.

Title & Author:

The city : a global history / Joel Kotkin.

Publication:

New York : Modern Library, ©2005.

Description:

xxix, 218 pages ; 21 cm

Series:

Modern Library chronicles

Notes:
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Introduction : places sacred, safe, and busy -- Chronology -- pt. 1. Origins : the rise of cities in a global context -- 1. Sacred origins -- 2. Projections of power, the rise of the imperial city -- 3. The first commercial capitals -- pt. 2. Classical cities in Europe -- 4. The Greek achievement -- 5. Rome, the first megacity -- 6. The eclipse of the classical city -- pt. 3. The Oriental epoch -- 7. The Islamic archipelago -- 8. Cities of the Middle Kingdom -- 9. Opportunity lost -- pt. 4. Western cities reassert their primacy -- 10. Europe's urban Renaissance -- 11. Cities of mammon -- pt. 5. The industrial city -- 12. The Anglo-American urban revolution -- 13. Industrialism and its discontents -- pt. 6. The modern metropolis -- 14. The search for a "better city" -- 15. Suburbia triumphant -- 16. The postcolonial dilemma -- 17. "Queens of the further East" -- Conclusion : the urban future.
Dust jacket.

Summary:

Acclaimed urbanist Kotkin examines the evolution of urban life over the millennia and, in doing so, attempts to answer the age-old question: What makes a city great? Despite their infinite variety, all cities essentially serve three purposes: spiritual, political, and economic. Kotkin follows the progression of the city from the early religious centers of Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and China to the imperial centers of the Classical era, through the rise of the Islamic city and the European commercial capitals, ending with today's post-industrial suburban metropolis. Looking at cities in the 21st century, Kotkin discusses the effects of developments such as shifting demographics and emerging technologies. He also considers the effects of terrorism--how the religious and cultural struggles of the present pose the greatest challenge to the urban future.--From publisher description.

Resources:
ebrary
Sample text
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Contributor biographical information
Publisher description

ISBN:

0679603360
9780679603368
0375756515 (pbk.)
9780375756511 (pbk.)

Subject:

Cities and towns History.
Sociology, Urban.
Civilization.
Villes Histoire.
Sociologie urbaine.
Civilisation.
urban sociology.
civilization.
15.50 general world history; history of great parts of the world, peoples, civilizations: general.
Cities and towns.
Stadt
Urbanität
Cities.

Form/genre:

History.
History (form)

Added entries:

Modern Library chronicles.

Holdings:

Location: Library main 238634
Call No.: HT111.K65 2005
Status: Available