num_pages: 128
description: This study is the first to be devoted entirely to village planning in the traditional societies of Africa, Southeast Asia, Oceania and the New World - peoples whose way of life had not, until recently, been strongly influenced by the 'high' cultures of Europe, Asia, or pre-Columbian America. Each society selected by Dr. Fraser for study offers 'a case history in which is rehearsed a single solution of the planning problems.' The examples are arranged in progression from the simplest to the most sophisticated and illustrate the ever present, yet always varied interrelationship of social, economic and religious institutions and planning.Thus the society of the Mbuti Pygmies, who are hunters and gatherers, is relatively democratic, and their mobile way of life is seen in a forest camp of hut dwellings which have no fixed pattern beyond the use of a center to express the inhabitants' over-all sense of solidarity. In more complex agricultural societies, such as one finds in Melanesia, diverse plans become intelligible through and examination of local social and religious attitudes; in Indonesia, certain societies even plan their villages according to the group's conception of the cosmos. The Yoruba of Nigeria have a socially cohesive culture based on lineage and divine kingship, despite living in densely populated centers. The plans of the towns show a striking similarity to concepts first developed in the ancient Near East.
language: English
title: Village planning in the primitive world
titlecomplete: Village planning in the primitive world (Planning and cities)
ratings_count: 3
publisher: Studio Vista