Teacher's Summary

WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THE HISTORY OF CITIES

Cities are a core unit of civilization.
They provide a center for activity, economics, trade, religion, and culture. The progress of a civilization is reflected in the quality of life of the people who live within its cities.

Well-planned cities do not happen on their own or by accident.
When left on their own or to individuals, cities tend to be ugly and to function poorly. The best planned cities are the result of strong leadership and the ability of that leader to enforce the rules. Good examples of quality city planning include Charles II of England using the ideas of Christopher Wren, Governor Clinton of New York, and Brigham Young of Utah.

Effective cities continue to change.
The needs of people, and thus of cities, change over time. History shows that although the renaissance city was a vast improvement over the medieval city, even that model did not work during the industrial era. Leaders must understand that cities and towns must evolve to keep up with a changing society.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
What will the future bring for city planning? How will population growth, artificial intelligence, mass media, mass transportation, changing lifestyles, and growing diversity affect our cities? The young people of today must look ahead to plan communities that meet new and future needs.