Origins of Cities

Three credits · Undergraduate

Urban living is an increasingly common experience for humans across the globe; city life, however, is not a modern phenomenon. This course is a broad introduction to the process of urbanism and the rise of early pre-industrial cities. Specific cases are examined in order to elucidate the varying roles cities played in ancient states and how this knowledge can aid in our current understanding of modern urban life. Prerequisites: ANTH 111, 112. Three credits. Offered 2026-2027 and in alternate years.