Most historians and social scientists treat Cities as mere settings.
To fully comprehend such path dependency, we need to develop a synthetic vision that is historically and geographically informed..
These qualities intertwine, creating built environments that endure.
The character of Cities varies by country and world region, but it has generic qualities, a claim best tested by comparing places that are most different.
Some effects extend beyond urban borders, creating cultural change.
It creates congestion and pollution, posing challenges for governance.
Socially, it can alienate or provide anonymity, while fostering new forms of community.
In economic terms, urban concentration enables efficiency and promotes innovation while raising the costs of land, housing, and labour.
There, daily life has a faster, artificial rhythm and, for good and ill, people and agencies affect each other through externalities (uncompensated effects) whose impact is inherently geographical.
In fact, urban places shape our experience.
Most historians and social scientists treat Cities as mere settings
