History of Urban Form Before the Industrial Revolutions, 3rd Edition PDF
Preview History of Urban Form Before the Industrial Revolutions, 3rd Edition
100 HISTORY OF URBAN FORM To MY MOTHER; PAT, SARAH, JOANNA and JONATHAN; FREDERIC, JOSHUA and SOPHIE HISTORY OF URBAN FORM Before the Industrial Revolutions THIRD EDITION A EJ MORRIS DiplArch(UCL), DiplTP(Land),ARIBA, FRGS ~ ~~o~;~~n~~~up LONDONAND NEWYORK First published 1972byGeorgeGodwinLimited Secondeditionpublished 1979 Thirdedition published 1994 Published2013byRoutledge 2ParkSquare,MiltonPark,Abingdon,Oxon OX144RN 711Third Avenue,NewYork,NY10017,USA RoutledgeisanimprintoftheTaylor&FrancisGroup,aninformabusiness eAEJMorris 1994 Allrights reserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereprintedorreproducedorutilised inanyform or byanyelectronic,mechanical,orothermeans, nowknownorhereafterinvented,including photocopyingand recording,orinanyinformationstorage orretrieval system,withoutpermission inwritingfrom thepublishers. Notices Knowledgeandbestpracticeinthisfieldareconstantlychanging. Asnewresearchand experience broadenour understanding,changes inresearch methods,professionalpractices, ormedical treatmentmaybecomenecessary. Practitionersand researchersmustalwaysrelyontheirownexperienceandknowledge in evaluatingand using anyinformation,methods,compounds,orexperimentsdescribedherein. In usingsuchinformationormethodstheyshouldbemindfuloftheirownsafetyand thesafetyof others, includingpartiesforwhomtheyhaveaprofessionalresponsibility. Tothefullestextentofthelaw,neitherthePublishernortheauthors,contributors,oreditors, assume anyliabilityforanyinjuryand/ordamage topersonsorpropertyasamatterofproducts liability,negligence orotherwise, orfrom anyuseoroperationofanymethods,products, instructions,orideascontainedinthematerialherein. ISBN-13:978-0-582-30154-2 (pbk) BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationData ACIP recordfor this bookisavailablefrom theBritish Library. LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData Acatalogueentryforthis title isavailablefrom theLibrary ofCongress. Setby3in 10/11ptBaskerville PPLCjl0 Contents Foreword by ProfessorJ W Reps vViI Introduction vViBi Acknowledgements iIxX 1- The Early Cities i 2 - Greek CityStates 3355 3- Rome and the Empire 5555 4- MedievalTowns 9 2 5- The Renaissance: Italysets a pattern i57 6- France: Sixteenth to Eighteenth Centuries 1r991! 7- A European Survey 22221 I 8- Britain: Sixteenth to mid Nineteenth Centuries 224499 9- Spain and her Empire 292 10- Urban USA 3322 11 11- IslamicCities ofthe Middle East 365 AppendixA- China 402 Appendix B- Japan 404 AppendixC- Indian Mandalas 410 Appendix D- Indonesia 41 I Appendix E- Comparative PlansofCities 4r3 Selectbibliography 414 General Index 425 IndexofPlace Names 43 6 Foreword In 1974 I came across HistoryojUrbanFormin a London bookshop. Its effective combination of text and illustrations and its coherent orga nization led me to seekoutthe author. We metseveral times in London and later at Cornell. When the publishers decided to make his work available in the United States, it was a pleasure to accept Morris's invitation to write the foreword to the American printing. I have found no reason to change the following three paragraphs from that state ment. This bookis the bestsingle-volumegeneral historyofurban planning and development that has yet appeared, and I think it unlikely that a betteronewill be written. Skilfullydrawingon more specializedstudies by others ofindividual countries or periods, Mr Morris has incorpo rated the results ofhis own research and observations. He has accom plished the seemingly impossible in being both complete and concise. Carefully chosen quotations from other authorities placed alongside the admirably clear and straightforward text provide additional or contrasting commentary on the topics selected for discussion. Equally helpful to the reader are the numerous illustrations - many of them drawn especially for this book - which facilitate understanding ofthe text. HistoryojUrbanFormis the ideal book for those seeking an introduc tory treatment ofthe history ofurban planning and physical growth. The more advanced student can also read it with profit because ofthe author'sfresh interpretationsoffamiliarthemes and his insightsgained through first-hand explorations ofthe cities about which he writes. Revised throughout and substantially expanded, this book now in cludes a valuable examination and interpretation of town and city planning in Spain and its colonial possessions and an exploration of urban development in the Islamic countries ofthe Middle East. Addi tional illustrations enhance a valuable feature ofearlier editions, and material in the text bringing the reader into the early years of the modern era usefully extends the scope ofthis comprehensive survey. John W Reps, Professor Emeritus Department ofCity and Regional Planning College ofArchitecture, Art and Planning Cornell University 1V0I0 Introduction Thisexpanded third editionofA HistoryojUrbanFormhas been brought out twentyyears after the bookfirst appeared in 1972as a consolidated development ofmy lecture series and articles. It is also now more than forty years since, as an undergraduate architectural student at Uni versity College London, I first became fascinated by dimly perceived reasons for the shapes ofhistoric towns - which gradually crystallized into my personal system ofhistoric 'urban form determinants'. Mean while, the second edition of1979had been expanded with considerable broadeningofthespread ofcity examplesin Europeand the USA; with existing first edition text revision restricted to correction oferrors. In setting out, twenty years on, to further expand and to fully revise an established book ofthis kind it was difficult to know how much to change. There was no need to depart from the structural arrangement ofsequentialhistoricalperiods, evenhad economyin theuse ofmy time not determined retention ofas much as possible ofthe standing text. Other than adding the entire new chapters and main parts to existing chapters, revision ofthe second edition main text has been to introduce only vital new material. The main updating and expansion changes to the book have taken the form ofthat which comprises, in effect, a third edition overlay of explanatory notes, additional quotations, and up to date references. Happily this process (which was unimaginable twenty years ago) has been greatly facilitated by my original page layout with its parallel major and secondary text columns. Thethird edition The major expansion ofthe third edition has taken the form ofadding two entirely new chapters and new parts in six of the nine original chapters. The two new chapters are: Nine - Spain and her Empire, which is derived from the chapter originally written for the Spanish language edition published in 1984by Editorial Gustavo Gili, Barcelo na (now in its fourth impression); and Eleven - Islamic Cities ofthe MiddleEast, an entirelynewchapterwhich I presentas thenewbook's major contribution to international urban history, not only because it fully establishes the direct unbroken link between the first Sumerian VB 101 INTRODUCTION cities ofMesopotamia and those ofIslamic tradition, but also because Ifyou can facetheprospectofnomorepublicgames during the period ofits completion I have been able to benefit from Purchaseafreeholdhouseinthecountry. Whatit will costyou availability ofthe most recent English language publications by Mus Isnomorethanyoupayinannualrentforsomeshabby lim scholars. For a Westerner working out ofhis culture, these invalu Andill-litgarrethere.Agardenplot'sthrownin With thehouseitself,andawellwithashallowbasin able books and articles clarified for me the nature and effects of the No rope-and-bucket work when yourseedlings need uniquely Islamic control ofhistoric urban form. somewater!... Individual chapter expansion has involved: InsomniacausesmoredeathsamongstRomaninvalids Thananyotherfactor(themostcommoncomplaintsof One - Ur has been consolidated as the archetypal ancient Mesopota course, mian city and linked forward to the origins ofIslamic urban culture in Areheartburnandulcers, broughtonbyover-eating.) the Arabian Peninsular; in addition the twin systems of urban form, Howmuch sleep, Iask you, can one getin lodgings here? and locational determinants are fully introduced. Unbrokennights- andthis istherootofthetrouble Two- thecityofAthensis broughtthrough its oftenoverlooked centur Arearichman'sprivilege.Thewagonsthunderingpast Through those narrow twisting streets, the oaths of ies ofIslamic occupation, to the redevelopment plan ofthe 1850s; and draymen new examples ofancient Greek urbanism have been included. Caughtinatrafficjam- these alonewouldsuffice Three- the coverageofRoman provincial urbanism has been extended Tojoltthe doziestsea-cowofanEmperorinto Permanentwakefulness.Ifabusinessappointment to include Spain and North Africa; and there is my personal explana Summonsthetycoon,hegets therefast,bylitter. tion ofthe determinants ofthe morphology ofthe City ofLondon, as it Tacking above the crowd. There'splentyofroom in was re-established after Romano-British desertion ofthe site. side: Hecanread,ortakenotes,orsnoozeashejogsalong Four- the European medieval period includes two new sections deal Those blindsdrawndownaremostsoperific.Evenso ing with the SpanishChristian and Islamiccities; and Dutch urbanism Heoutstripsus; howeverfastwepedestrianshurry We'reblockedbythecrowdsahead,whilethosebehind - which has been derived from my introductory historical chapter con us tributed to PublicPlanningin theNetherlands, Oxford University Press, Treadon ourheels. Sharpelbowsbuffetmyribs, 1985. Polespokeintome;one loutswingsacrossbeam Downonmyskull,anotherwithabarrel. Seven- the chapter has been generally re-organized and the European Mylegs aremud-encrusted,big feetkickme,a city coverage increased with the addition ofnew end-of-period, mid hobnailed, nineteenth century urban cartography, and aerial photographs. Soldier'sbootlandssquarelyonmytoes... (Juvenal,The SixteenSatires) Ten - a new introductory section deals with the Spanish settlement of parts of the area of the future USA; and the conclusion to the pre industrial historical period in the making ofAmerican cities has been rewritten. Urbanform determinants Althoughin no waypretendingto thestatusofa 'theoryofurbanform', What is tobe the future development of the great city? ..Onthisquestionthedivisionisclearandsharp, as sought after by academic geographers of various persuasions and especiallyintheUnitedStates, wheremechanizationis specialities; nevertheless my consolidated system of'urban form deter somuchmoreadvancedthaninEurope.Oneopinionis minants' is presented as a structured basis for analysis ofunderlying that the metropolis cannot be saved and must be brokenup; the otherthat, insteadofbeingdestroyed, reasons for historic, as also present-day urban morphology. (As a third the citymustbe transformed in accordance with the edition change I have become reconciled to use of the term 'urban structureandgeniusofourtime... (Thispointofview)holdslikewisethatmencannotbe morphology' as a synonym for my 'urban form'. Hitherto and irra separatedfrom nature,andconsequentlythatthe city tionally, I had always shied off the word morphology because ofone cannotcontinuetoexistin itspresentform. Butitim eminent urban historian's main subheading - 'the Morphology of a mediatelypointsoutthatthecityismorethan acon temporaryandpassingphenomenon.Itisaproductof Wurt' - when writing ofEastern European village settlement.) manydifferentiatedcultures,inmanydifferentperiods. My list ofdeterminants is not inclusive and readers will be able to Thus the questionofitslife ordeath cannotbesettled addfrom theirown backgroundsand experience. Thereisa widespread simplyonthebasisofpresent-dayexperienceorcondi tions. Thecitycannotbedamnedtoextinctionmerely and growinginterest in local historical matters for which this book can becauseit hasbeen misusedsinceindustrializationor assist in establishing a general background, and as I have now stressed becauseits wholestructurehas been renderedimpo in three editions, HistoryofUrban Formhas been written for students of tent by the intrusion ofa technical innovation, the motorcar. The question has to be consideredfrom a urban history in the widestsense, and notjustfor those concerned with broader view and extended into other queries. Are gaining particular professional qualifications. In which connection, citiesconnectedwitheverysortofsocietyandciviliza tion?...Oraretheyeternalphenomenonbasedonthe over the years it is pleasing to have learnt ofreaders who have found contactofmanwithmandespitetheinterferenceofany the book useful in planning special-interest vacations. mechanization?Formyself,Ibelievethattheinstitution Although present in the background, as it were, the earlier editions ofthecityisonenativetoeveryculturallife andevery period. did not include formal introductory establishment ofthe urban form (SigfriedGiedion,Space,TimeandArchitecture) V1I0U0 INTRODUCTION determinants; an omission which has now been rectified by the inclu Isthe cityanaturaltriumph ofthe herdinstinctover sion of a major new part in chapter one. Listing other than salient humanity, and therefore a temporal necessity as a hangoverfromtheinfancyoftherace,tobeoutgrown determinants for each of the 3I2 urban and village settlements now ashumanitygrows? illustrated in the book would have rapidly become repetitively self Oristhecityonlyapersistentformofsocialdisease eventuatinginthefateallcitieshavemet? defeating. Readers will find my indexing ofparticular use in this re Civilizationalwaysseemedtoneedthecit)".Thecity spect. expressed, contained, andtriedto conservewhatthe While I believe that my coiningofthe term urbanform determinants flower ofthe civilization thatbuiltit mostcherished, although it was always infested with the worst ele is original, the underlying idea, ofcourse, is not. Yet I do not know of mentsofsocietyasawharfisinfestedwithrats.Sothe any comparably extensive general basis for the analysis of historic city may be said to have servedcivilization. But the civilizationsthatbuiltthecityinvariablydiedwithit.Did urban morphology. thecivilizationsthemselvesdieofit? Accelerationinvariablyprecededsuch decay. The earliereditions were seen as the first volumeofa two-part interna Accelerationinsomeformusuallyoccursjustbefore decline and while this acceleration may not be the tional history ofurban form, bringing the subject through to more or causeofdeath itisadangeroussymptom.Atempera less recent times. I now know that more than the one volume and tureof104intheveinsandarteriesofanyhumanbeing several authors are necessary for that purpose. The international scope wouldberegardedasaccelerationdangeroustolife... Ibelievethecity, asweknowittoday, istodie. is too wideand it broadens all the time. Whilerecognizingthat I canno Wearewitnessingtheaccelerationthatprecedesdis longer contemplate my own comprehensively international volume solution. two, there are those favoured parts that have been extensively re (FrankLloydWright,The FutureofArchitecture) searched and which may yet be taken through into print. This book in its three editions has been written in a rooftop studio in a mostly old enlarged cottage in a North Hampshire village. The pre cedinglectureseries, articles and earlydrafts tookshapein 1930SNorth London suburbia; a domestic base which could not be improved on locally, however, orin oneofthe historicinnerparts, orold 'villages' of London. Hence this urban historian's emigration to a country village. In my previous two Introductions I sought to justify this move by explaining: 'my own kind of"ideal city" no longer exists - ifindeed it ever did.' Twenty years on - and approaching thirty in the village, I know that still to be true- especiallyin terms offamilyenjoyment. And yet, on the other hand, many oflife's most memorable moments have been in cities: none more so than Paris - which could also have been included in the dedication. A EJ Morris Lower Froyle Hampshire, England April 1993 10I1X
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