On the Causes of the Greatness and Magnificence of Cities

by Geoffrey Symcox

Overview

The first treatise ever written on the sociology of cities, 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 strikingly original use of sources in his analysis: moving beyond familiar classical and biblical references, he drew groundbreaking insights from reports by travelers and missionaries about cities in the non-European world, especially in China.

Though seminally important to the history of urban studies, On the Causes of the Greatness and Magnificence of Cities has not been available in a modern translation until now. This edition of the treatise – which includes an introduction by Geoffrey W. Symcox on the intellectual context within which it was conceived – is a must-read for anyone interested in the life of cities both historical and contemporary.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442665422
Publisher:	University of Toronto Press
Publication date:	10/26/2012
Series:	Lorenzo Da Ponte Italian Library
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	136
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Geoffrey Symcox is a professor emeritus in the Department of History at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction xi

Note on the Translation xxxix

Dedication to Duchess Cornelia Orsini di Alternps 3

Book I

1 What Is a Great City 9

2 On Authority 9

3 On Force 11

4 On Laying Waste the Lands of Neighbours 13

5 On Removing Peoples from Their Own Countries to Our City 13

6 On Pleasure 14

7 On Utility 16

8 On the Convenience of the Site 17

9 On the Fertility of the Land 18

10 On Convenience for Transport 20

Book II

1 31

2 On the Particular Methods Employed by the Romans 31

3 On Colonies 33

4 On Religion 35

5 On Universities 39

6 On Courts of Justice 41

7 On Industry 42

8 On Fiscal Privileges 46

9 On the Possession of Some Valuable Commodity 47

10 On Political Dominion 50

11 On the Residence of the Nobility 51

12 On the Residence of the Prince 53

Book III

1 71

2 Why Cities Do Not Grow Proportionately 72

3 On the Causes That Maintain a City's Greatness 77

A Treatise. How Many People Rome Might Have Contained at the Height of Its Greatness 78

Bibliography 81

Index 89