Chapter 1
Comprehending the Past, Present, and Future of Cities
IN THIS CHAPTER
Examining the origin of cities
Exploring the impacts of the industrial revolutions
Looking at population changes
Introducing megacities
For thousands of years, humans were wanderers, existing only in small groups and consumed primarily with daily survival. Then everything changed. The story of why humans went on to eventually build cities is essential for understanding the future of humankind. In this chapter, I briefly describe the origin of cities, including the important impact and role of the industrial revolutions in defining the world today. I also explore how urbanization continues to change the planet, and I introduce the next stop for many major urban areas: megacities.
Discovering the Origin of Cities
The writer and philosopher George Santayana is reported to have said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." In other words, ignoring, or being blind to, the lessons of the past puts you at a disadvantage. It makes sense to me: I believe that if you’re going to create ...
Get Smart Cities For Dummies now with the O’Reilly learning platform.
O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.
