THE GLOBAL SPATIAL GEOGRAPHICAL STRUCTURE OF THE SPREADING OF CITIES THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY

Abstract

This work is based on our original research into the global spreading of cities throughout the era of civilization. The narrative is lined up from an idea to reconstructive modeling of the gradual process of city spreading in the geographical space of the planet. The three sources of modeling are: 1) insights into the geography of ancient civilizations in the great river valleys in the range of latitudes 23° to 40° N; 2) concepts of relatively successive emergence of cities pertaining to the Mediterranean branch of civilizations in the spatio-temporal historical frontiers of global city spreading; 3) historical examples of foci and vectors of outward expansion demonstrated by corresponding agents of civilization. This research endeavor has enabled us to identify, on the one hand, three latitudinal zones of city spreading including a chronologically forthcoming one and, on the other hand, two interzonal portals. The general model established helps broaden and deepen the concept of a well-ordered process of city spreading in the geographical space of the planet up until its completion in the future.

Keywords

• spreading of cities
• socio-territorial system
• spatial dynamics
• expansion zone