At a Glance
city: References & Edit History
More Articles On This Topic
- constructionBronze Age and early urban cultures
- local government
- local governmentAreas and authorities
- political systemCities
- political systemCity and local government
- populationInternal migrations
- ekistics
- anthropologyUrban anthropology
- urban cultureDefinitions of the city and urban cultures
- geographyHuman geography as locational analysis
- geographyHuman geography
- urban sprawl
- urbanization
- water supply systemDevelopments in supply systems
- What’s the Difference Between Urban and Rural?
- EuropeUrban and rural settlement
- ancient RomeRome and Italy
- history of EuropeDemographics
- FranceGaul under the high empire (c. 50 bce–c. 250 ce)
- FranceLocal institutions
- GermanyWenceslas
- educationThe institutions
- GreeceThe evolution of Byzantine institutions
- history of EuropeThe bourgeoisie
- history of EuropeEconomic effects
- history of EuropeUrban growth
- ItalyLombard Italy
- ItalySocioeconomic developments in the city
- history of the Low CountriesThe towns
- history of EuropeUrban growth
- history of EuropePolitical, economic, and social background
- history of EuropeModifications in social structure
Additional Reading
The emergence of cities and the qualities of urban life are examined in Lewis Mumford, The City in History (1961), a classic historical review of the city with critical commentary and excellent illustrations; Robert Ezra Park, Human Communities: The City and Human Ecology (1952, reissued 1968), a pioneering sociological analysis of urbanization; Henri Pirenne, Medieval Cities: Their Origins and the Revival of Trade, trans. from the French by Frank D. Halsey, 3rd ed. rev. (1939, reissued 1974), a historical treatment of city development from the collapse of the Roman Empire through the Middle Ages; Gideon Sjoberg, The Pre-Industrial City, Past and Present (1960), a comparative study of preindustrial cities; Ralph E. Turner, The Ancient Cities (1941), a historical synthesis of the origin of cities from Neolithic times to Greek civilization, vol. 1 of The Great Cultural Traditions: The Foundations of Civilization; and Paul M. Hohenberg and Lynn Hollen Lees, The Making of Urban Europe, 1000–1950, rev. ed. (1995), an analysis of the city’s changing role.
Article Contributors
Primary Contributors
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Eric Edwin Lampard
Professor Emeritus of History, State University of New York at Stony Brook.
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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
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Article History
| Type | Description | Contributor | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Updated section on ancient cities and added top questions. | Sep 09, 2025 | ||
| Add new Web site: Social Sci LibreTexts - The Structure of Cities. | Sep 07, 2023 | ||
| Cross-references added. | Feb 21, 2023 | ||
| Media added. | Feb 21, 2023 | ||
| Add new Web site: World History Encyclopedia - The Ancient City. | Dec 07, 2022 | ||
| Add new Web site: University of London - Institute of Historical Research - History in Focus - The City. | Oct 07, 2016 | ||
| Article revised and updated. | Jan 30, 2007 | ||
| Bibliography revised. | Jan 30, 2007 | ||
| Added new Web site: World from the Web. | May 22, 2006 | ||
| Added new Web site: World from the Web. | May 22, 2006 | ||
| Article revised. | Sep 05, 2000 | ||
| Article added to new online database. | Jul 20, 1998 |
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