The huge power plants that supply cities are far cleaner per kilowatt hour than wood-burning stoves or kerosene lamps. That efficiency has a sad side effect. The poor go to cities. The efficiency of cities makes survival possible for those least able to consume. Yet on another level my historian friends are right.
Cities are the great bazaars of our society.
We display our wares in cities. They are where our wants are stimulated. A farmer might own the same television I do. He might drive a larger car. Cities drive us both to want those things.