Abstract

The size of cities—both population size and density—is the first of two major factors that determine both the forms of cities (layout and planning) and the nature of city life and society. Life in large, dense settlements creates increased face-to-face interactions, or “energized crowding.” This, in turn, has both negative effects (crowding, stress, crime poverty) and positive effects (creation of community in neighborhoods, and the growth of economic productivity) for city dwellers.  I introduce the topic of settlement scaling, in which the size of settlements predicts various social and economic measures.    

Lecture 3 in a series of lectures with the general topic: Cities Before the Modern Era: Population, Functions and Urban Life.