A major city will have begun for many of the same reasons as a small town. After all, no city is born huge; instead, it grows from a humble beginning. Cities are hubs of ideas and creativity. The most basic way to think about this is to imagine five individuals living alone in the forest. None of them could build anything substantial-no house, no shop, nothing-because they would have no way to protect themselves or trade with other people. But once they learn how to weave trees into baskets and use them to sell their produce, things change forever. Baskets now serve as currency, and these new settlers are no longer alone. They have created society. Cities are centers of education. They offer the best resources available, which attracts students from across the country and around the world. A student who lives in Chicago but goes to school in New York may study photography in an art school in Chicago's North Side neighborhood. The arts play a role in helping builders of cities understand what people want from them. Theater actors perform tests on audience members' opinions of different locations for their productions, while musicians write songs about their experiences living in certain places. Cities are homes to innovation. In a small town, people know one another and often share ideas. However, once you cross the street away from your neighbor's house, everything changes.