Urban Geography
• Spatial development of towns/cities
• Variations between cities
• Variations within cities
Urbanism
• Way of life
• Attitudes/values
• Patterns of behavior
Cities as engine
of growth
• Mobilizing functions
• Decision-making
functions
• Generative
functions
• Transformative
functions
Urban system
• Interdependent set of cities in a region
• Urbanization generated by elites
• Tribute/taxes flow into elite,
developing center
Ancient
cities
Erbil,
northern
Iraq
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Ancient Greece, 750 to 490 BCE
Independent city-states, laid out on axis with central square
The Roman Empire
“All roads lead to Rome” (1 million in AD 100)
Trajan’s Forum, Rome
The Coliseum, Rome
Roman Theater, Rome
Theaters Throughout the Roman
Empire, 200 CE
Classical Architecture from the
Greeks and Romans
Arches and columns
The Medieval City in Europe (450 to 1300)
Dark Ages breakdown in order;
Medieval Age centered on Catholic Church;
Defensive structures, walls;
Cities not growing
Medieval Castles
in France
Feudalism as
Economic model
Lords and peasants (serfs)
Gothic
Architecture
Cologne Cathedral,
Germany
Church and Architecture
Notre Dame de Paris
Narrow, Twisty
Medieval Streets
Vienna, Austria
Other European city characteristics
Plazas
High density
Low skyline
Lively downtown
Neighborhood stability
Symbolism
Good municipal services
Trade City
• Merchant capitalism
emerges 1400s-1500s;
Gradually replaces feudalism
• Mediterranean Sea ports
• Baltic/North Sea ports
(Hanseatic League)
Venice canals
Baroque Amsterdam
The Renaissance and Baroque Periods
Boulevards and
“Third Places”
Schonbrunn Palace,
Vienna. Austria
Winter palace,
St. Petersburg, Russia
Versailles, France
Buckingham Palace, London
Big Ben,
London
Westminster Abbey, London
Parliament
Houses of Parliament,
London
London Tower
Arc de Triomphe, Paris
Rediscovery of
Classical GrecoRoman model
Paris
Industrial
capitalist
City
(1800 on)
Industrial
Revolution:
Steam engine
Steel
Loom
Colonial City
• Established as colonial
commercial or administrative center
Associated with particular resource
(coffee, gold, cacao, etc.)
Often a port
Colonial
City
Fort
European
Town
Native
town
Modernism
Industrialization
Automobiles
“Geography
of
Nowhere”
World Urban Dwellers
60
50
40
% Urban dwellers
30
20
10
0
1800
1900
1997
2005
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Urban percentage of population
Urban growth rates
4/5 growth in Periphery (esp. in wars); 50% under poverty line
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Top 30 cities
that are Core
1950
21
1980
11
2010
5
Primate cities
• Primary, largest city (usually capital)
much larger than others in country
London, Paris, Mexico City, Cairo
Gateway
City
Link (door) to another country
or region because of location
Hong Kong (China-world)
Buffalo (U.S.-Canada)
World cities
• Disproportionate share
of global cultural influence
• “Where world’s
business is done”
• Imperial capitals became
corporate centers
World cities
3 centers in Tripolar Economy:
New York, London, Tokyo
Urban Morphology in the U.S.
1. Walking City
2. Electric Streetcar Era
3. Early Automobile Era
4. Freeway Era
Stages
of
intraurban
growth
The Walking City
(until 1880s)
Electric Streetcar Era
(1888-1920)
Arteries, early suburbs
Early Automobile Era
(1920-1945)
Partition, expansion
Suburbs building into natural areas,
and paying the consequences
Central
Place
Theory
Explaining
the relative
size /function of
urban centers as
a function of
economic
behavior
Range:
Maximum distance
buyer will travel
Threshold:
Minimum
market size
Central
Place
Theory
in Spain
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Rank-Size Rule (U.S.)
• 2nd largest city 1/2 size of 1st
• 3rd largest city 1/3 size of 1st…..etc. etc.
• Philadelphia ranked 5th, 1/5th of NY
• Regional centers
– Denver, Atlanta, Chicago, etc.
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Shock City
Rapid economic and
socio-cultural changes,
population growth
Urban growth: Metro areas
Hinterland
• Area within economic “orbit”
of a major regional center
• Economic flows toward big city;
– Cultural influence from big city
• NW Wisconsin hinterland of Twin Cities
• Southern Wisconsin hinterland of Chicago
Southeastern Wisconsin
Bird’s-Eye View of Neenah-Menasha
Fox Valley,
Wisconsin
Hydropower
Farming
Timber
Paper
Port of Green Bay