ECU Libraries Catalog

On the causes of the greatness and magnificence of cities, 1588 / Giovanni Botero ; translation and introduction by Geoffrey Symcox.

Author/creator Botero, Giovanni, 1540-1617
Other author/creatorSymcox, Geoffrey.
Format Electronic and Book
Publication InfoToronto : University of Toronto Press,
Descriptionxxxvii, 95 p. ; 24 cm.
Supplemental Content Full text available from Ebook Central - Academic Complete
Subject(s)
Series The Da Ponte library series
Lorenzo da Ponte Italian library series. UNAUTHORIZED
Contents Book I. What is a great city -- On authority -- On force -- On laying waste the lands of neighbours -- On removing peoples from their own countries to our city -- On pleasure -- On utility -- On the convenience of the site -- On the fertility of the land -- On convenience for transport -- Book II. On the particular methods employed by the Romans -- On colonies -- On religion -- On universities -- On courts of justice -- On industry -- On fiscal privileges -- On the possession of some valuable commodity -- On political dominion -- On the residence of the nobility -- On the residence of the prince -- Book III. Why cities do not grow proportionately -- On the causes that maintain a city's greatness -- A treatise. How many people Rome might have contained at the height of its greatness.
Abstract "The first treatise ever written on the sociology of cities, Giovanni Botero's On the Causes of the Greatness and Magnificence of Cities (1588) marked a radical departure from previous literature on urban centres. It provided a revolutionary analysis of how cities function, and of the political, economic, demographic, and geographic factors that cause their growth and decline. Noteworthy too is Botero's original use of sources in his analysis: moving beyond familiar classical and biblical references, he drew remarkable insights from reports by travelers and missionaries about cities in the non-European world, especially in China. Though seminal in the history of urban studies, On the Causes of the Greatness and Magnificence of Cities has not been available in a modern English translation until now. This edition--which includes an introduction by Geoffrey Symcox on the intellectual context within which Botero's treatise was conceived--is a must-read for anyone interested in urban life and the development of cities."--Dust jacket.
General noteOriginally published in Italian in 1588 under the title: Delle cause della grandezza delle città.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references and index.
Access restrictionAvailable only to authorized users.
Technical detailsMode of access: World Wide Web
Genre/formElectronic books.
LCCN 2012406954
ISBN9781442645073
ISBN1442645075

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