Urban Ecology Past Present and Future

What is a city?

What classifies as urban?

Our urban world: By 2030, greater than 5 billion people living in cities, 60% of the global population

Industrial Revolution

• 1760-1840
• Reduced labor on farms
• quickly manufacture goods
• transport goods long distances
• massive urbanization
• unhealthy cities

American suburbanization

• Network of railroads and trolleys
• Movement away from "dirty" urban centers

Uruk vs Today's Cities

• Ancient Uruk: 50,000 - 80,000 people, 6 km^2, 13,000 people/km^2
• Asheville, NC: 80,000 117 km^2
• New York: Over 8 million people, 10,194 people/km^2
• Vancouver: Greater van 2.6 million, Van 5,700 people/km^2