First-Year Seminar (101-6-24)
Topic
Why Cities?: An archaeology of cities throughout h
Instructors
Zachary Alan Nissen
Meeting Info
University Hall 318: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM
Overview of class
In 2005, leaders from around the globe met to discuss how, for the first time in human history, over half of the world's population lives in cities (Crane and Kinzig 2005). In this class, we will explore what it is that cities offer their residents, from their origins over 6,000 years ago, to some of their historic and contemporary formulations. We will pay particular attention to recent claims, (see United Nations 2019 World Urbanization Prospectus) that if cities are to be successful over the long-term, they must be safe, inclusive, and equitable. Here, we will take up an archaeological and historical perspective on cities to assess what exactly draws diverse groups of people to settle and stay in the same place. For example, the covid-19 pandemic has taught us that cities are not the bastions of inclusivity we may want them to be, and that inequalities can be dramatically intensified during periods of societal stress, yet urban populations continue to grow. Students will read an interdisciplinary collection (Anthropology; Archaeology; Geography; History; International Studies) of scholarship that considers the relationships between people and urban environments and how they vary cross-culturally. Together, we will examine how residents of cities throughout human history have negotiated urban life and the conditions that encourage or discourage urbanism over the long-term. By the end of the term, students will develop critical thinking skills, learn how to investigate urbanism from multiple scales, and communicate their insights via written and oral homework assignments.
Registration Requirements
Freshman/Sophomore Only
Class Materials (Required)
Smith, Monica L. (2019) Cities: The First 6,000 Years. Penguin Books, New York. 978-0735223677
Class Attributes
WCAS First-Year Seminar
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Reserved for First Year & Sophomore only
Add Consent: Department Consent Required
Drop Consent: Department Consent Required