12:00 PM to 01:15 PM MW
Section Information for Fall 2017
This course will examine the rise of the city as one of the greatest innovations in human history. What are the origins of “the city,” and what were the guiding principles of urbanization during the ages of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, the Industrial Age, into the Modern Age and beyond? The city has served diverse functions since its roots in Mesopotamia, Tenochtitlan, and the Qin Dynasty; students will think critically about the benefits and perils of “the city” for citizens and non-citizens across the millennia. While the ancient Greek city-state gave rise to democratic principles of the agora, the fortress city of the Middle Ages privileged security from outsiders/barbarians over democratic principles. The city of industrialization and modernization shifted again, in which the demands of capitalism pit diverse urban communities against one another in struggles over rights to the city.
Students will examine a number of cultural, political, and economic landscapes as these have evolved, from King Hammurabi’s rule over Babylon to our own 21st century. We will study the role of religion, ideals of democracy, industrialization, political structures, capitalism, and the role of public space through the examination of primary source documents.
View 31 Other Sections of this Course in this Semester »
Tags:
Credits: 3
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.