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Cities are the largest "artifacts" investigated by archaeologists--entities that have been under academic scrutiny for a long time. Urban places are both physical and social agglomerations, fostering the most intense interaction of any human settlement. Archaeological evidence illustrates how ancient cities worldwide were similar in origin, development, and maturation, showing considerable isomorphism with modern cities.
Glenn R Storey explores issues of definition and the essential elements of cities, offers a new heuristic typology of cities, and reviews case studies of six ancient cities (Copan, Great Zimbabwe, Gyeongju, Hierakonpolis, Rome, and Teotihuacan) with illustrative exercises at the end of each chapter. Urban planning, both ancient and modern, helps us understand the explosive increase in human activity in cities.
Overall, urban novice or old hand, this is a useful book that shares the palpable depth and breadth of Storey's knowledge of many complex aspects of cities, both in terms of data and theory. Every reader is bound to get something out of this volume. --Gaydarska, Bisserka, Antiquity, Volume 95, Issue 383, October 2021
"He combines his years of experience in researching and writing about Roman urbanism, plus archaeological side-trips to Teotihuacan and Copan, with a truly worldwide knowledge of early cities that not only introduces beginning students to archaeology and ancient urbanism but one that general readers and professionals in a number of fields, such as urban planning, history, architecture, and, more generally, the social sciences and humanities, will find enlightening." --Emerson,Thomas E., Illinois State Archaeological Survey, MCJA Book Reviews Volume 45, 2020
"This book covers theoretical and methodological perspectives and diverse case studies through accessible writing, making it a nice addition to introductory courses on urbanism. To this end, the exercises provided at the end of each chapter are interesting and informative. . . . alternative perspectives and analytical tools are provided, all of which should support fruitful discussion in both teaching and future research." --Murakami, Tatsuya, American Antiquity, 23 June, 2021