A4330 Urban History I
History/Theory Lecture
FONT SIZE="1">Derek Moore
INTRODUCTION
This course deals with topics on the history and design of cities from the Greek Antiquity to the middle of the 18th century. Although references will be made to non-Western cities, the focus is Western (primarily European) urban history. The goal is not to provide a comprehensive survey, but to elaborate on the complex construct of cities by discussing certain case studies in detail. Thus, every lecture will concentrate on one or two cities. Sociopolitical and economic issues that effect urban forms, as well as urban culture, will be covered and the source material will draw from various disciplines. Nevertheless, the course is about the built form of cities. In John Summerson s words, this is the tangible substance, the stuff of the city, which includes not only high architecture, but the entire urban environment.
REQUIREMENTS
A short mid-term paper (3-5 pages), focusing on formal analysis (separate handout describing the exercise will be given) and a take-home essay exam (10-12 pages).
GENERAL READINGS
There are many textbooks which survey urban history. The following are especially useful for our purposes:
L. Benevolo, The History of the City, Cambridge, 1980 (especially good for illustrations).
W. Braunfels, Urban Design in Western Europe: Regime and Architecture, 900-1900 (tr. K.J. Northcott), Chicago, 1988.
Spiro Kostof, A History of Architecture, New York, 1985.
Mark Girouard, Cities and People, New Haven, 1985.
A.E.J. Morris, History of Urban Forms Before the Industrial Revolution, New York, 1979.
SCHEDULE
1. Introduction: Methodology, Theoretical framework, sources
2. Cities of Greek Antiquity
3. Rome and the World Empire
4. The Rise of Christianity: Rome and Constantinople
5. The Medieval City
6. The Medieval City in Comparative Perspective
7. Florence and the Origins of the Renaissance City
8. Renaissance Cities: Theory and Practice
9. Ritual and Urban Form: The Case of Venice
10. Making the Sacred City: Rome and Istanbul
11. The Grande Siecle in the West and in the East: 17th Century Paris and 17 th Century Isfahan
12. The City of the Enlightenment: London
13. Cities of the New World