The City in Western History: From Antiquity to Early Modernity

Catalog description

This course explores the history of the city from ancient Athens to eighteenth-century Paris. Throughout history, cities have been among the most complex forms of social organization. In the premodern period, many cities were also important political players with a high degree of autonomy; some cities even pursued imperial ambitions. This course explores change and continuity in premodern urban history: we will, for instance, discuss the decline or stagnation of once-powerful city-states; the rise of cosmopolitan metropolises; and the commercial ties that often linked these cities to one another. Throughout, special focus will be given to the patterns and rhythms of everyday life as well as to aspects of urban planning and environmental history.