Histories and Ideologies

One of the key debates in urban studies revolves around questions of city formation. Ultimately, the question of where the first cities emerged may never be resolved – despite a growing mountain of archaeological evidence. Yet even if our intellectual curiosity about where urbanism began will never be sated, exploring processes of urban formation will remain an important theme in urban studies because it allows us to explore vital questions of what cities are for. For example, contrasting ideas that cities emerged for defensive reasons, for the purposes of trade or as centres of cultural significance encourage us to reflect on the multiple roles that cities serve, and to consider the changing role of cities in pre-industrial, industrial and post-industrial ...