Sociology

The definition of a city varies from place to place. It can however be defined as a large and densely populated urban area i.e. an area of significant size and importance and a center of commerce, culture and population. Cities mostly do not exist separately but are bound by the larger society of which they are a key aspect. Throughout history, cities have functioned as centers of government, trade, social interaction, finance and culture. They are complex units of social organization that have flourished and declined over the centuries in almost direct proportion to the importance of specific cultures or societies. In every society, cities have been referred to as the major engine for innovation, development and wealth creation. The growth of cities is as a result of a combination of factors which can be social, political, economical or physical. However, other factors abound such as the need for security, religious associations and population increase. For instance, it is believed that Egypt and Indus valley could have grown as a result of urban influence from Mesopotamia though the stamp of civilization could also have been a major factor (Marcionis and Parrillo p. 33).

Over time, the physical geography or landscape of an area which includes landmarks like mountains, forests and water bodies, vegetation, climate and soil make-up greatly influenced the growth of cities.  Areas with rivers or lakes developed into agricultural or fishing cities due to the availability of water for irrigation and fishing, lush river valleys and favorable climate. For example, Mesopotamia and Egypt grew into cities due to the presence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and River Nile respectively which necessitated agricultural production from the availability of silt deposits and water for irrigation while in the Indus region, which is present day India and Pakistan, the ecology was highly favorable. Moreover, other cities like London grew as a result of the presence of harbors. Its deep-water port and geographical isolation enabled the shipment of goods to the heart of England and other nations and raw materials from its colonies in Africa. The physical location of a city further determined how the people would arrange themselves within the area. New York has a bedrock land base suitable for constructing sky scrapers while the semi-arid stretch of Los Angeles makes it impossible. Therefore in New York, space collected people while separating them in Los Angeles (p.13).

Politically, cities grew in response to the citizens need and desire for representation and sense of security. In ancient Egypt, the cities grew in an attempt to reflect the power of the Pharaoh who was believed to be a god. His political power was meant to maintain control over his people and further develop the city by exploiting its culture and technology. London on the other hand, grew more strongly as a city when it opened its gates to William the Conqueror who assured its citizens of protection and political control over other cities as long as they allowed him entry into the city and crowned him king (p. 47). Politically cities also grew out of the leaders ability to exercise complete power over their people in terms of access to education, military work, production of food and making alliances with other nations or waging war for the interest of the city.

Originally, human beings had no sense of social structure. Everyone within the group knew a little bit of everything. However, patterns of social structure were changed with the development of permanent settlements by the hunter-gatherer population which was faced with the possibility of starvation. Permanent settlement gave them the chance to specialize in other different activities (p. 26). This division of labor led to more efficient use of both natural and human resources. In Europe, decrease in agricultural activities led to the rise of a new middle class-the bourgeoisie- consisted of government officials, traders, and bureaucrats who attracted people who hoped to share in the material benefits. The gathering of these new classes of people led to the growth of new cities. A city was also more likely to grow in an area where the resources available were able to sufficiently improve the standards of living of the people, provide them with a choice in the conduct of life and highly stimulate their imagination for growth. The growth of Moenjo-Daro as a city rose due to the evidence and the promise of good living from its detailed mud-baked houses with well-built baths, adequate water and good drainage (p. 33).

Economic factors contributed largely to the growth of cities through commerce and trade of basic commodities. The availability of raw materials ensured a constant supply and distribution of processed goods to other nations. London was recognized as the center of British trade. The growth of London was further prompted by the start of industrial revolution and its monopoly as the only nation that produced wool which was in high demand fueled the dominance of the market economy (p. 49). Consequently, capitalism, a system that was grounded in the possibility of commerce and trade offered by cities rose while feudalism declined. The division of labor brought about primarily when the hunter-gatherer population opted for permanent settlement, led to the rise of a new group of people like the craftsmen, artists and farmers who engaged in trade through the sale of their products.

According to Aristotle, cities grew out of the need for security. Frequent attacks and war and the need for people to be identified as superior and with a unique culture led to the organization of politically distinct cities. In ancient Greek, where few laws and even fewer treaties existed, groups of people came together in a single location that would guarantee safety from external forces. The Acropolis in Aristotles Athens is one such natural defense that was sort (p. 12). However, in areas where natural defenses were non-existent the inhabitants of the city built walls or formed a military branch that offered them the needed security e.g. the Mesopotamian cities and Jericho.

Religion formed the core of most cities. In most major ancient cities, the cathedral or temple formed the most important physical feature represented by tall buildings. In Mesopotamian cities, early urban life was centered on temples which were large and richly decorated and on religious beliefs with the population recognizing many gods. Medieval society consisted of Roman Catholics since the Catholic religion was an unchallenged force and elimination from the church either through excommunication or as a member of another religious group resulted in ones exclusion from the society hence becoming an outcast (p. 42).

In conclusion, though the factors that facilitated the growth of cities varied from one region to another, there was a strong relationship between these factors in every city. There is evidence which suggests that one factor finally depended on another for the city to prosper in all aspects e.g. the economic factor relied upon the physical factor to provide a suitable environment for the production of goods and a convenient trade route. For instance, London grew into a city because the site of the port and its geographical isolation made trade possible through shipment of goods to other nations and raw materials from its colonies.