GGRA03H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Urban Design, Group For The Study Of Reactive Motion, Bituminous Coal
Document Summary
Chapter 2: environmental issues in cities- a brief history. Ancient cities began to emerge some five or six thousand years ago in various regions around the world. The earliest cities were found in mesopotamia. Agricultural surplus did not create cities, cities created agricultural surplus. Water was one of the most critical elements. Water management was an important ingredient in the development of centralized power. Large-scale engineering projects were only possible with centralized planning and hierarchic authority. The early cities referenced nature within the city walls. Humans transformed the environment by creating the earliest cities. The maya were highly accomplished in astronomy with an intimate knowledge of the calendar. At the heart of the mayan city existed large plazas surrounded by the most important government and religious buildings. The most important religious temples sat atop the mayan pyramids, which were impressively decorated. The great mayan cities were abandoned, as wars raged and people fled.
