Urban

The emergence of cities in the different regions of the ancient world presents two problems. First, in areas of common culture or at least of cultural contact, did the cities evolve independently, as phenomena of social, political, and economic growth, or did they emanate from a common center of origin? Second, how did the Greco–Roman city–state originate?

In considering these questions, Mason Hammond has limited the ancient world to the Middle and Near East, the Indus Valley, and the Mediterranean region. He takes geographical and economic factors into account as he treats the cities historically by areas, from their first development in Sumeraround 3200 B.C, to the end of the ancient world in the middle of the sixth century A.D.

Mr. Hammond concludes that the city’s evolution was a phenomenon of local social development but was also influenced by older cultures. The city–state, he shows, was a creation of the Greek genius. It was diffused throughout the Greco–Ronan world, and withered with the decline of ancient culture in the early Middle Ages.

The author provides brief geographical descriptions of the areas he covers. Thirteen maps give the locations of places referred to in the text. Where ancient and modern names differ markedly, both are given, in the text and in an index of the places shown on the maps. An extensive chronological survey and a general index document the text.

A comprehensive, thoroughly researched introduction that blends social-behavioral and historical-evolutionary approaches with a more traditional economic-principles orientation, providing a balanced and current treatment of city systems and the internal structure of the city. Includes growth and functions of systems, physical environment and perception of the city, change, urban growth policy, and the future. Follows a logical and comprehensive sequence of topics, with emphasis on North American cities. Heavily referenced; includes 100 detailed maps, 150 graphs and charts, and 30 photographs. Appendices discuss census definitions, quantitative and statistical techniques, and manufacturing classifications.

A substantial and increasing proportion of the world's population now lives in towns and cities. It is therefore not surprising that over the last 25 years urban geography has emerged as a major focus for research and teaching. As a subject, it is concerned with the operation and effects on the city of a wide range of economic, social, and political processes, each of which has generated a field of systematic investigation in its own right. Many of these are dealt with in detail in this book.

The book that launched America's urban legend obsession!

"Theorizing the City has become fundamental reading for those students of urban society and culture who wish to better understand twentieth-century city forms and spaces, as well as why certain race, gender, age, and class inequalities continue to be manifested today." -- Alejandro Lugo, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign "Using rich comparative material, this volume presents an intriguing anthropological vision of how cities are shaped. A major addition to a comparative anthropology of cities." --Judith Goode, co-editor of The New Poverty Studies "These informative essays make clear that anthropology has much to offer to urban theory and policy debates." --Nancy Foner, author of From Ellis Island to JFK: New York's Two Great Waves of Immigration Anthopological perspectives are not often represented in urban studies, even though many anthropologists have been contributing actively to theory and research on urban poverty, racism, globalization, and architecture. Theorizing the City corrects this omission. Following a brief history of urban anthroplogy, emphasizing developments in the field during the 1990s, this volume presents twelve ethnographies of major cities in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Five images of the city--the divided city, the contested city, the global city, the modernist city, and the postmodern city--serve as frameworks for the essays. Each section highlights current research trends such as poststructural studies of race, class, and gender in the urban context; political economic studies of transnational culture; and studies of the symbolic meanings and social production or urban spaces. Setha M. Low is professor of environmental psychology and anthopology and director of the Public Space Research Group at the Graduate Center, City University of New York. She is the author of On the Plaza: The Politics of Public Space and Culture.

Provides an international history of urban development, from its origins to the industrial revolution. This well established book maintains the high standard of information found in the previous two editions, describing the physical results of some 5000 years of urban activity. It explains and develops the concept of 'unplanned' cities that grow organically, in contrast with 'planned' cities that were shaped in response to urban form determinants. Spread throughout the texts are copious illustrations from a wealth of sources, including cartographic urban records, aerial and other photographs, original drawings and the author's numerous analytical line drawings.

The future of social work rests on how well it can address urban issues, particularly the needs of urban communities of color. Yet too many texts either focus exclusively on the problems these communities face or simply ignore their unique characteristics all together. Community Social Work Practice in an Urban Context aims to teach graduate students in social work how to create positive community environments in marginalized urban-based communities. Melvin Delgado's innovative and creative approach to urban social work practice shows students how to focus on the assets urban communities already have. Specifically, he suggests a capacity enhancement modelapproaching the adults and children of these communities through the arts and other positive community projects, such as community gardens, playgrounds, and murals. This model offers tremendous potential for unifying communities that consist of groups from very different cultural backgrounds. Social workers are in unique positions to use this model based upon their familiarity with communities and their exposure to issues related to oppression. This model also provides them with the opportunity to identify, engage, and plan services with communities. In turn, these projects are based upon a community's strengths and represent an effort to develop a community's capacity to help itself with assistance from professionals. Graduate students specializing in urban-focused social work will find this a fresh approach to a timely issue, particularly in community and macro practice courses. It not only shows students new and more positive ways to approach their urban clients, but it also provides them with a better way to address communities as a whole.

The 5th edition of this highly respected text builds upon the successful structure, engaging writing style and clear presentation of previous editions. Examining urban social geography from a theoretical and historical perspective, it also explores how it has developed into the modern day. Taking account of recent critical work, whilst simultaneously presenting well established approaches to the subject, it ensures students are well-informed about all the issues. The result is a topical book that is clear and accessible for students.