This book seeks to deepen readers' understanding of world history by investigating urbanization and the evolution of urban systems, as well as the urban world, from the perspective of historical analysis. The theoretical framework of the approach stems directly from space-economy, and, more generally, from location theory and the theory of urban systems.
The author explores a certain logic to be found in world history, and argues that this logic is spatial (in terms of spatial inertia, spatial trends, attractive and repulsive forces, vector fields, etc.) rather than geographical (in terms of climate, precipitation, hydrography). Accordingly, the book puts forward a truly original vision of urban world history, one that will benefit economists, historians, regional scientists, and anyone with a healthy curiosity.

Auteur

Luc-Normand Tellier obtained a Ph.D. in Regional Science from the University of Pennsylvania in 1973. He founded the Department of Urban Studies and Tourism of the University of Quebec at Montreal in 1976. He is the author of numerous books in regional science, as well as in French and Canadian history, and he has published in international journals such as the Journal of Regional Science, Regional Science Policy and Practice, Geographical Analysis, and Environment and Planning A. He received the title of Professor Emeritus in 2012.

Contenu

Introduction.- From the Beginning of Agriculture and Urbanization to the First Urbexplosions.- Understanding the First Urban Revolution.- The Two First Economy-Worlds: the Roman and Chinese Empires.- Understanding the Urban Evolution Dynamics.- The Big Ebb: Islam Out to Conquer the Great and the Asian Corridors.- Understanding Topodynamic Inertia.- The Big Ebb: Europe's Fight for Survival.- The Discovery of America and the Return in Strength of the Occident.- The Advent of Motorized Transportation and the Second Urban Revolution.- Understanding the Impact of Motorized Transportation.- The Age of Automobile and the Triumph of the American Corridor.- Understanding Topodynamic Corridors.- Poles and Routes through History.- The Topodynamic Model: Origin and Fallouts.- The Urban World Future.- Conclusion: The Broad Patterns of History.