Evolution Of Cities

2304 Words10 Pages
How has the evolution of cities so far been similar in the eastern and western context? Introduction Cities can be described as composite, adaptive systems with multiple instruments that shape the course of their development. They comprise of businesses and households that interact with each other and are always influenced by the historical shape, form and culture of the environment in which they function. Cities over a period of time have become important nodes of the global economic system and have become vital financial centers for the world. Physical infrastructure plays a very essential role in development and economic growth of cities. The economies of cities and their infrastructure systems are closely interlinked and it is often…show more content…
The global economy has been transformed by information technologies. The most substantial economic sensation of the first decade of the century has been the rise of China’s economy. China’s economy has grown at a remarkable annual rate of 10 percent over the past 30 years. Building of infrastructure in the city is responsible for acceleration of the economic growth. The country’s urban population increased from 34 percent to 43 percent in just a decade. The major factor contributing to the economic growth in cities can also be attributed to access to waterways like seas, oceans which helps in connecting important regions in the world and thus, facilitating trade and development of the cities. The similarity in evolution of cities in the eastern and western context will be studied by studying two global cities namely New York in the United States and Hong Kong in China. Evolution of New York City New York’s history is continuous, stable, and triumphant. The city’s rose to dominance during the early nineteenth century and economic growth was driven primarily by New York’s advantages as a port. Manufacturing, immigration, and even finance followed from the supremacy created by the maritime. The ultimate success of New York comes from its role as the center of the global trading…show more content…
The port of New York dominated American shipping and immigration completely. New York became a manufacturing town, as industries like sugar, publishing, and m the garment trade crowded around the port. The growth of New York City’s port was an unavoidable result of New York’s clear geographic advantages. New York is centrally located in the United States. For ships from England that had to make a single delivery to the colonies, New York offered a better location because it would be cheaper to ship goods from there to the southern colonies or Philadelphia. In addition, the Constitution s reduced the barriers to interstate trade increasing the possibility for interstate trade and hence, the advantage of a location near the center of the colonies increased. New York’s large Hudson river helps in facilitating shipping deep into the American continent and is extremely

More about Evolution Of Cities

Open Document