What is the historical importance of urbanization?

Answer 1

Urbanization is probably the single most important phenomenon in history. Generally, towns grow with military power and, therefore, the study of military structures (phalanx, legion, comitatus, infantry pikemen/longbowmen and urban militias) is an equally important area of study.

Urbanization along with contracts and changing military structures marked the end of the middle ages and the beginning of the renaissance. For obvious reasons, urbanization allows for easier flow of information, more resistance to anti-progressive forces like nobles or religious officials, and more technological evolution. People grow and progress via trade and sharing, and urban environments allow this.

Urbanization occurred en masse during the industrial revolution in particular, when many large land owners out-competed small farms while technology allowed factories to open and provide jobs. But even before this, relatively large cities existed in England, Italy (the home of the renaissance), and Germany (until the reformation). These cities were trade hubs that often fielded their own miltia forces, and therefore were important to the king in creating a centralized government not based on the feudal lords.

Urbanization has many important effects, this is a good list:1) Technological innovation caused by economies and trade2) Sharing of information caused by trade and compacted living3) Centralizing government caused by militia forces that become foundation for national army (as in Roman Empire, for example, where cities were administrative outposts)4) Improving of living conditions caused by all of the above
Urbanization is probably the single most important phenomenon in history. Generally, towns grow with military power and, therefore, the study of military structures (phalanx, legion, comitatus, infantry pikemen/longbowmen and urban militias) is an equally important area of study.

Urbanization along with contracts and changing military structures marked the end of the middle ages and the beginning of the renaissance. For obvious reasons, urbanization allows for easier flow of information, more resistance to anti-progressive forces like nobles or religious officials, and more technological evolution. People grow and progress via trade and sharing, and urban environments allow this.

Urbanization occurred en masse during the industrial revolution in particular, when many large land owners out-competed small farms while technology allowed factories to open and provide jobs. But even before this, relatively large cities existed in England, Italy (the home of the renaissance), and Germany (until the reformation). These cities were trade hubs that often fielded their own miltia forces, and therefore were important to the king in creating a centralized government not based on the feudal lords.

Urbanization has many important effects, this is a good list: 1) Technological innovation caused by economies and trade 2) Sharing of information caused by trade and compacted living 3) Centralizing government caused by militia forces that become foundation for national army (as in Roman Empire, for example, where cities were administrative outposts) 4) Improving of living conditions caused by all of the above CHEBADIAH