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Why do Cities exist?

Lecture by Michael E. Smith (Arizona State University).

Info about event

Time

Monday 30 April 2018,  at 12:00 - 13:00

Location

Centre for Urban Network Evolutions (UrbNet) Aarhus University Moesgård Allé 20, DK-8270 Højbjerg Denmark Building 4230-232

Abstract

What do the concepts "city" and "Urban" mean? I explore a approaches to defining cities and urbanism. Definitions depend on research questions and goals. Sometimes it is important to have a clear definition of a concept like city, and sometimes definitions just get in the way of our understanding. I also explore the forces that drive nonurban or rural people to move into cities, and I discuss some of the social effects of city living. I close by reviewing the top-down and bottom up (generative) forces that structure urban life.    

 

Lecture 2 in a series of lectures with the general topic: Cities Before the Modern Era: Population, Functions and Urban Life.