Centers of progress : 40 cities that changed the world / Chelsea Follett.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Follett, Chelsea, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cities and towns--Growth.

Cities and towns.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (287 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, District of Columbia : Cato Institute, [2023]

Summary:

"Where does progress happen? The story of civilization is the story of the city. It is cities that have created and defined the modern world by acting as the sites of pivotal advances in culture, politics, science, technology, and more. There is no question that certain places, at certain times in history, have contributed disproportionately toward making the world a better place. This book tells the story of forty of those places. In Centers of Progress: 40 Cities that Changed the World, Chelsea Follett examines a diverse group of cities, ranging from ancient Athens to Song-era Hangzhou. But some common themes stand out: most cities reach their creative peak during periods of peace; most centers of progress also thrive during times of social, intellectual, and economic freedom, as well as openness to intercultural exchange and trade; and centers of progress tend to be highly populated. Because, in every city, it is ultimately the people who live there who drive progress forward--if given the freedom to do so. Identifying common factors--such as relative peace, freedom, and multitudes--among the places that have produced history's greatest achievements is one way to learn what causes progress. Change is a constant, but progress is not. Understanding what makes a place fertile ground for progress may help to sow the seeds of future innovations. Moreover, their story is our story. City air provides the wind in the sails of the modern world. Come journey through these pages to some of history's greatest centers of progress"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Intro

Foreword

Introduction

1 Jericho Agriculture

2 Göbekli Tepe Religion

3 Budj Bim Aquaculture

4 Uruk Writing

5 Mohenjo-Daro Sanitation

6 Nan Madol Seafaring

7 Memphis Medicine

8 Ur Law

9 Chichén Itzá Team Sports

10 Athens Philosophy

11 Alexandria Information

12 Rome Roads

13 Chang'an Trade

14 Baghdad Astronomy

15 Kyoto The Novel

16 Bologna Universities

17 Hangzhou Paper Currency

18 Florence Art

19 Dubrovnik Public Health

20 Benin City Security

21 Mainz Printing Press

22 Seville Navigation

23 Amsterdam Openness

24 Agra Architecture

25 Cambridge Physics

26 Paris Enlightenment

27 Edinburgh Social Science

28 Philadelphia Liberal Democracy

29 Vienna Music

30 Manchester Industrialization

31 London Emancipation

32 Wellington Suffrage

33 Chicago Railroads

34 Los Angeles Cinema

35 New York Finance

36 Hong Kong Noninterventionism

37 Houston Spaceflight

38 Berlin Fall of Communism

39 Tokyo Technology

40 San Francisco Digital Revolution

Acknowledgments

Illustrations &amp

Figures

Suggested Further Reading

Discussion Questions for Book Clubs &amp

Classrooms

About the Author.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9781952223662

1952223660

OCLC:

1397576642