Chapter 10 describes the evolution of cities as focal points of political states in the Indus Valley, China, Southwest Asia, Meso-America, Greece, and Rome. Cities developed at different times in different cultural hearths. Cities have evolved in stages which are linked to dominant modes of transportation, technology, and economic systems. Each stage was marked and determined by prevailing modes of transportation and industry. Chapter 10 explains these stages.
Some cities reflect the essence of the culture at whose focus it lies.
Site and situation strongly influence the growth and prosperity of an urban area. A city's relative location affects its linkages and economic domination over a large and productive hinterland and ensure its well-being. A city's site plays a role in its origin and early survival. There is a relationship between urban growth and economic development. The cities in the world which are growing most rapidly are located in the developing world.