Focusing on the emergence of humanity's first cities, this Element synthesizes archaeological findings to enhance the comparative understanding of urbanism throughout different regions and eras. It features case studies from ancient Mesopotamia, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, offering insights into the diverse development and characteristics of early urban centers across the globe.
Dean Saitta Libri


This Element describes and synthesizes archaeological knowledge of humankind's first cities for the purpose of strengthening a comparative understanding of urbanism across space and time. Case studies are drawn from ancient Mesopotamia, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.