The Phenomenon of the Megacities… or not? What is a: Μεγάπολις (Megapolis)?

1. Megacity Environment Painting
Artist: Mark Weaver

2. Greek philosopher Plato thought the ideal POLIS (πόλις) had 5,000 inhabitants.
A city that size is considered small in our times, but that „cap on‟ population had
a reason:
• it allowed for participation; that is, that every citizen could have a measurable
contribution to the polis.

3. The phenomenon of „The Megacity‟ is not a new one.
MEGALOPOLIS in Ancient Greece had a population of 40,000 in 370-371BC.
(Chandler and Fox, 1974:80)
ATHENS had a population of 300,000 in 432BC.
In terms of population, Athens of 432BC was 1/30th the size of Greater London in
the 1980‟s and 1/38th the size of New York City in the 1980‟s.
(Chamoux, 1965; Ehrenberg, 1969; Grant and Huxley, 1964; Hammond, 1967; Kitto, 1951)
Under Emperor Trajan, 98AD-117AD, the population of ROME was at its largest 1.6
million people; a figure that is not reached again for another 1850 years later.
ANTIOCH capital of Syria (Syria was a Roman (Byzantine) province from 64 BC to
636 AD) was one of the largest cities in the ancient world, with a total estimated
population of 500,000.
PATALIPUTRA (Ancient Patna, in India) around 300BC had a population of 400,000.
THEBES, Egypt around 1,050BC had 50,000 people population.
These cities were backed up by complex systems of administration, food supplies,
traffic, water and a waste disposal system.
„Populations‟ settled with CONSTANTINOPLE (Istanbul) in the Middle Ages and
PEKING (Beijing) in the early modern period. LONDON joined after the 1800‟s,
setting the precedent of rapid urban development, followed by cities in North
America and Australasia in the C19th and those in the developing world in the
C20th .

4. Year
City
Country
Population
(est.)
50,000
1050BC
Thebes
Egypt
500BC
Babylon
Iraq
150,000
432BC
Athens
Greece
300,000
370BC
Megalopolis
Greece
40,000
300BC
Pataliputra (Patna)
India
400,000
Syria
500,000
64BC-636AD Antioch
98AD-117AD Rome
(Roman Empire)
Italy
(Roman Empire)
1,600,000
500AD
Constantinople
(Istanbul)
Turkey
1800
Peking (Beijing)
China
1,100,000
1900
London
United Kingdom
6,480,000
(Byzantine Empire)
450,000

5. Megapolis today.
Megalopolis, located in the south-western part of Arcadia, southern Greece, was
clearly regarded by the Greeks as „a very big place‟, at least potentially as it
never became any bigger than about 40,000 people.
MEGALOPOLIS (Μεγαλόπολις) means „great city‟ (big city) in Ancient Greek. When
it was founded 370-371BC by Epaminondas of Thebes, it was the first large
urbanization in Arcadia. It had a wall reaching about 9 kilometres round and
Epaminondas helped its progress by forcibly moving into it the inhabitants of
some forty local villages. Its theatre had a capacity of 20,000 visitors.

6. The Acropolis - ‘Acro’ = edge, ‘polis’ = city
Even Athens, which we know seemed dangerously large to the people of the
ancient world, was preposterously small by our standards. In 432 B.C., at the
beginning of the Peloponnesian war, when its population probably reached its
maximum, the entire Athenian polis - city and surrounding countryside - had
between 215,000 and 300,000 people. It was the most populous Greek state, yet
in population it was one-thirtieth the size of Greater London or one-thirty-eighth
of New York City in the 1980s.
(Kitto 1951, 95, Chamoux 1965, 304; Grant 1964, 195; Hammond 1967, 329-30; Joint Association of
Classical Teachers 1984, 73, 157; Ehrenberg 1969, 31-2).

7. 3D Reconstruction of Classical Rome
Rome of course was much more serious: a kind of rehearsal or trailer for what
cities would later become. It was, simply, the first giant city in world history.
Precisely how big is a matter for conjecture: the estimates vary wildly, from
250,000 to 1,487,560 [plus slaves], but the great majority, for various dates from
the late Republican age to the fourth century AD, come in the range from three
quarters of a million to around one and a quarter million, most of them close to
one million.
You can take your pick: the fact is that Rome was very big, bigger by far than any
city before, two or three times the record set by Patna three hundred years
earlier, or by Babylon one hundred and fifty years before that, and probably
bigger than any that would follow it for the next seven hundred years.
(Carcopino 1941, 18, 20; Korn 1953, 32; Packer 1967, 82-3, 86-7; Chandler and Fox 1974, 300-323;
Stambaugh 1988, 89; Drinkwater 1990, 371; Robinson 1992, 8).

8. 3D Reconstruction of Classical Rome
Its huge size positively forced its administrators to devise complex systems of
international food supplies, to grapple successfully with long-distance delivery of
water and with complex systems of waste disposal, even to formulate rules of
urban traffic management.
After that, things settled down for a bit. It took another seventeen centuries
before another western city came to rival and then overtake Classical Rome.
Constantinople (Istanbul) may have equalled ancient Rome in the middle ages,
Peking (Beijing) in the early modern period; but, some time just after 1800,
London became indisputably the greatest city that had ever existed in the world.

9. Around 1800 LONDON became indisputably the greatest city that had ever existed
in the world.
The population of the area, that later became the METROPOLITAN BOARD OF
WORKS and then the LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL, rose from:
• 959,000 in 1801 to reach 2,363,000 in 1851 – more than doubling it; and then
• doubled again in 1901 to 4,536,000.
But by the start of the C20th, the LCC area was already inadequate as a
description of the real London: the real London was GREATER LONDON.
Even by 1801, Greater London had more than 12% of the population of England
and Wales; by the end of the century, over 20%. By 1885 its population was
larger than that of Paris, three times that of New York or Berlin.
(Chandler and Fox 1974, 368; Mitchell and Deane 1962, 19-23; Young and Garside 1982, 14).

10. Skyline of New York: 1898
NEW YORK soon took over from GREATER LONDON.
Between 1870 and 1900 the population of the old city of New York – just
Manhattan island and the Bronx – doubled; whereas that of the outer three
counties increased by more than two and half times.
The extension of the New York City boundary in 1898, to include those outer
counties – which became the boroughs of Queens, Brooklyn and Richmond –
increased the city‟s area tenfold and more than doubled the population from 1.5
million to 3.4 million.
In the short forty-year period to 1940, the population more than doubled again to
7.45 million.
New York was the 3rd largest city of the world in population terms in 1875; 2nd in
1900, 1st by 1925.
(Rischin 1962, 10; Condit 1980, 105; Jackson 1984, 321; Hammack 1982, 186, 200, 227-8).

11. The mass movement of population across the world
means that cities particularly in Asia, sub-Saharan
Africa and projected population growth per
World Map showingSouth America, are growing in size by the
hour ofhour. In 2011, 2011. What about 2013?
world cities in the majority of the planet‟s population
of 6.9
i.e. every hour:billion people live in cities rather than the
• countryside.migrate to Lagos to live.
40 people
• 43 people migrate to Karachi to live.
• 49 people migrate to Delhi to live.
• 9 people migrate to New York to live
• 3 people migrate to Sydney to live.
2%
• 10 people migrate to Mexico City to live.
of the earth‟s surface is
occupied by cities
53%
of the world‟s population
lives in cities
(2011)
To see the above INFOGRAPHIC larger please select the link below:
How Rapidly Cities Are Growing [INFOGRAPHIC]

12. Year
City
98AD-117AD Rome
Country
Italy
(Roman Empire)
Population (est)
1,600,000
775
Bagdad
Iraq
1,000,000
1800
Peking (Beijing)
China
1,100,000
1825
London
United Kingdom
1,350,000
1850
London
United Kingdom
2,320,000
1875
London
United Kingdom
4,241,000
1900
London
United Kingdom
6,480,000
1925
New York
USA
7,774,000
1950
New York
USA
12,463,000
2012
New York – Urban
USA
20,464,000
1965
Tokyo-Yokohama
Japan
20,000,000
1985
Tokyo-Yokohama
Japan
30,273,000
2012
Tokyo-Yokohama
Japan
37,200,000

13. There are several approaches that attempt to define what a city (polis) consists of. Ekistics
was introduced as the science of human settlements (Doxiades, 1968).
Ekistics studies how human settlements were inhabited by humans and provides a
conceptual framework for a better understanding of human settlements. The foundation of
the concept is in nature, which contains ecological systems, within which humans form
social network and societies and build the „shells‟ which are the physical structures
providing comfortable living conditions.
The basic elements of human settlements in the ekistics studies are described below
(Doxiades, 1968, p.12):
1. “Nature, providing the foundation upon which the settlements are created and the
frame within which they can function”
2. “Human”
3. “Society”
4. “Shells, or the structures within which a human lives and carry out his different
functions”
5. “Networks, or the natural and human-made systems which facilitate the functioning of
the settlements, as for example roads, cycling corridors and infrastructure in general.”
Resource efficiency in an urban context: Defining the framework of eco-municipalities

14. VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
House Group
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
Small Polis
(town)
Polis
(city)
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(Global City)
7,500 M
50,000 M
Small Eperopolis
VI
Megalopolis
V
Small Megalopolis
IV
Metropolis
III
House
2
Room
Anthropos
Ekistic
units
1
II
Small Metropolis
I
Community Scale
Ekistic Elements
Nature
EKISTIC UNITS
A classification of settlements according to their size, presented on the basis of
a logarithmic scale, running from EKISTIC ELEMENTS 1), as the smallest unit
Anthropos
Anthropos EKISTIC POPULATION (ekistic unit
Athe whole earth parts of unit 15). The settlements, starting from
classification of (ekistic whole human ekistic logarithmic
of measurement, to
scale maximum presented people for5each of the which or and ending with unit 15,
showing Ekistic
area
Society unit 1 corresponding to Anthropos, number of people
The
The can be number of graphically,elements, Ekistic units.
Units
corresponding to Ecumenopolis. From unit a basis corresponds to
corresponding to each unit, etc., so that it the be used as4, which for the
compose can
ie
class I,
unit
which corresponds to
measurement and classification with your settlements: human settlements. the definition
Shells community 40humantomax. 15,in EKISTIC UNIT to see community
House Group: of many dimensions
people mouse, each
Select,
class XII. Nature,
(from: 6-40 is a „HouseAnthropos Logarithmic Scale and C.A. Doxiades.
Group‟)
according to the „Ekistic (Man),
Networks
Society, Shells definition click the definition with your
When you have read the and
Networks.
Synthesis:
mouse to clear it and then select another EKISTIC UNIT.
750M
150 M
25 M
4M
500 T
75 T
10 T
1.5 T
250
40
5
2
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
(press the right arrow to clear these instructions but before you do that…
when you have read Unit 15 return here, and press the right arrow to continue with
the powerpoint)
1
Human Settlements

15. Μεγάπολις
st
1
interpretation
mega-
+
Precise scientific language:
“one million”
eg megawatt, megaton
polis
coined: 1894
“ancient Greek city-state”:
From the Greek: Polis (Πόλις)
“city, one‟s city; the state,
citizens”
coined/origin: 1965-1970
Megacity (Mega-city - 1968 (C.A. Dioxiades))
“A city having a population of one million or more.”
Online Etymology Dictionary

16. Μεγάπολις
nd
2
interpretation
mega-
+
From the Greek:
Megas (Μέγας)
“great, large, vast, big, high,
tall, mighty, important”
polis
coined: 1894
“ancient Greek city-state”:
From the Greek: Polis (Πόλις)
“city, one‟s city; the state,
citizens”
Definition: 1970+
Megacity (Mega-city - 1968 (C.A. Dioxiades))
“A Great City”, “A Big City”
“A city over 10,000,000 inhabitants and under 20,000,000.”
Online Etymology Dictionary

17. “The concept of MEGA-CITY is a very simple one. Developed by UN institutions to describe
ever-larger urban AGGLOMERATIONS, they are defined as cities with populations above a given
high threshold. The latter has increased as city sizes have grown and currently the threshold is
10 million.”
Mega-cities in Theoretical Perspective - P.J. Taylor
A MEGACITY is generally defined as a METROPOLITAN AREA with a total population in excess of
10 million people but under 20 million; over 20 million the term generally used is METACITY or
HYPERCITY.
Some definitions also set a minimum level of POPULATION DENSITY (at least 2,000 persons per
sq. km.). Megacities although wrongly called GLOBAL CITIES, (also WORLD CITIES*, ALPHA,
BETA and GAMMA CITIES), can be distinguished from global cities by their:
• Rapid growth;
• New forms of SPATIAL DENSITY of population;
• Formal and informal economics, as well as,
• Poverty,
• Crime,
• High levels of social fragmentation.
World cities are those that exert a dominant influence over continental and global economies and
processes. This is INDEPENDENT of population size, as world cities do not have to have huge populations (but
usually do) to exert such a huge influence. Indeed, a world city (also called global city or world centre) is a
city generally considered to be an important node (FOCAL POINT) in the global economic system such as
London, New York and Tokyo.

18. A Megacity can be a single metropolitan area or two or more metropolitan areas that converge upon one
another.
The terms: CONURBATION and METROPLEX are also applied to ‘metropolitan area’.
The terms: MEGAPOLIS and MEGALOPOLIS are sometimes used synonymously with ‘Megacity’.
“Even so using the term MEGACITY has been a problematic one.
There are two major problems associated with the common use of the term „Megacity‟.
Firstly:
„Megacity‟ is strictly „QUANTATIVE defined‟– according to UN (2008), megacities have at least
10 million inhabitants.
The WUP (World Urbanization Prospects) does not provide a rationale for determining the
threshold nor does anyone else (although: C.A. Doxiades attempts with his Ekistics) –
suggesting that saying - five or eight million inhabitants also make a „Megacity‟, would not be
wrong – (Davis 2006).
Ponder:
• Has anything changed in Istanbul in recent years due to the crossing of the 10 millionline?
• Do any disparities between the megacity Lagos and the „non-megacity' Chicago stem
from the difference in population size?
• Do Los Angeles and Rio de Janeiro have, except for the size of their respective
population, enough in common to be qualified in the same category of cities?

19. Despite the claim that 'mass matters' (IGU Megacity Taskforce), researchers writing on
megacities do not provide answers to these and similar questions.
The question, whether crossing a certain „quantitative threshold‟ makes any „QUALITATIVE
difference‟ in urban development or city life, remains unassessed.
Secondly:
More problematic is that much of the literature on „Megacities‟ deflects from the „quantitative‟
definition and uses „Megacity‟ as a synonym for problems in big cities in poorer countries; a
popular account is Davis‟ “Planet of Slums”.
„Megacities‟ are portrayed as „major global risk areas‟ (IGU Megacity Taskforce).
According to Kraas (2008, 583)
“[Megacities are] particularly prone to supply crisis, social disorganization, political unrest,
natural and man-made disasters due to their highest concentration of people and extreme
dynamics of development.””
Megacities in the Geography of Global Economic Governance - C.Pamreiter
KEEP IN MIND:
There are problems with defining population size of cities, as it often depends upon where researchers
draw the boundary of the city. Do they just count within the city boundaries, or do they count all of
the suburbs, or do they also count all of the surrounding satellite towns as well as a conurbation?

20. MIGRATION, CITIES AND THE MODERN-WORLD SYSTEM
Mega-cities in Theoretical Perspective - P.J. Taylor
“Historically, cities have been great DEMOGRAPHIC sinks: they lessened life expectancies. Thus
cities only grew through MIGRATION. In other words RURAL - URBAN migration has been,
literally, the lifeline of cities.
And before the modern era there have been very large cities: three in particular can lay claim
to be the first „millionaire city‟:
•
•
•
Imperial Rome [55BC-476AD],
Caliphate Baghdad [Caliphs of Bagdad: 750-1258], and
Ch‟ing Peking [Ch’ing Dynasty: 1644-1912].
And these examples clearly indicate the forces behind growth of the largest cities. These great
cities are reflections of the political power wielded by large world-empires; the
centralization of power is accompanied by the concentration of wealth requiring in-migration
to service both state function needs and satisfy market consumption wants.
In these societies there were non-political cities of reasonable size with mainly economic
functions – largely coastal and river ports – but they never challenged imperial capitals for
sheer size.

21. Continued:
MIGRATION, CITIES AND THE MODERN-WORLD SYSTEM
Mega-cities in Theoretical Perspective - P.J. Taylor
However, this dominance of political cities was challenged with the transition to the modern
world-system in Europe in the long sixteenth century (c. 1450-1650)*.
Although Europe did not have a dominant world-empire before 1450, and its urban trajectory
was led by the commercial cities of northern Italy, nevertheless Europe‟s largest city at the
peak of the „commercial revolution‟ in 1300 was not Venice, with an estimated 110,000, but a
political city, Paris, capital of the largest kingdom, which was more than twice this size with
some 228,000 residents (Chandler 1987, 17).
However in the transition there is the beginning of a new pattern with economic cities within
the HEGEMONIC STATE dominating urban growth (Taylor et al 2010).
In this case, cities in Holland, led by Amsterdam, which was not then a capital city, show very
fast growth rates relative to the rest of Europe (Israel). This is the first modern example of
economic forces rivalling political forces as a maker of cities.
*The Renaissance was a period of time from the 14th to the 17th century in Europe. This era
bridged the time between the Middle Ages and modern times.
The word "Renaissance" means "rebirth".

22. Continued:
MIGRATION, CITIES AND THE MODERN-WORLD SYSTEM
Mega-cities in Theoretical Perspective - P.J. Taylor
This is exemplified by the British industrial revolution where
• Birmingham,
• Glasgow,
• Liverpool, and
• Manchester
are the fastest growing cities of the eighteenth century (Taylor et al 2010).
By 1900 seven of the 16 „millionaire cities‟ previously referred to do not have state capital
functions: Birmingham, Boston, Chicago, Glasgow, Manchester, New York, and Philadelphia.
All the latter cities grew by attracting migrants for the economic opportunities that were
perceived as being available. The remaining millionaire cities at this time are all capital cities
but ones that were themselves rapidly industrializing such as Berlin, London, Paris and Vienna.
This is the first modern effect on urbanization that is unprecedented in history: the creation
of great industrial cities as described by Weber (1899).
“The large urban agglomerates we call megacities are increasingly a developing world phenomenon that will
affect the future prosperity and stability of the entire world.”
George Bugliarello - Megacities and the Developing World

23. Continued:
MIGRATION, CITIES AND THE MODERN-WORLD SYSTEM
Mega-cities in Theoretical Perspective - P.J. Taylor
The second modern effect on urbanization unprecedented in history is the rise of mega-cities
in the twentieth century.
Whereas the rural-urban migration for both political and economic cities was largely based on
the pull of the cities, urban opportunities seemingly outweighing the attractions of staying
rural, with mega-cities the situation is much more complex.
Certainly push factors relating to reorganizations of rural worlds seem to be just as important
as city pull factors. This is especially the case where the mega-city in poorer countries is
unable to provide anywhere near the formal jobs to match in-migration. The result has been
the production of what Davis (2006) calls „MEGA-SLUMS‟ including many „millionaire slums‟:
first, second and third generation urban slum dwellers are becoming a major global
demographic (Brugmann 2009).”
Push and Pull Factors:
Push factors are reasons why people leave an area/country.
Pull factors are reasons why people move to a particular area/country.
Push factors include: lack of services, high crime, war, poverty
Pull factors include: higher employment, safer, political stability, more wealth.

24. WHAT MAKES A CITY A “MEGA-CITY” AND
WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS?
Mega-cities Project and Yale Center for Study of Globalization
“Demographers define “mega-cities” as sprawling, crowded urban centres with populations
topping 10 million. In 1995, 14 cities qualified as mega-cities; analysts predict that by 2015
there will be 21.
The world‟s first
•
•
•
•
mega-cities were in Latin America:
Mexico City,
Rio de Janeiro,
São Paulo and
Buenos Aires.
But in recent years Asian countries:
• Japan,
• South Korea,
• China and
• India
have grown the fastest.

25. WHAT MAKES A CITY A “MEGA-CITY” AND
WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS?
continued:
Mega-cities Project and Yale Center for Study of Globalization
Today the five largest cities are
• Tokyo,
• Mexico City,
• São Paulo,
• Mumbai (Bombay) and
• New York City.
The rapid population growth of these cities is due primarily to intra-country migrations as the
rural poor move from the countryside to urban areas in search of better lives. The result,
unfortunately, is often:
• the proliferation of urban slums,
• increased crime,
• high rates of unemployment and
• profound environmental degradation accompanied by serious health
challenges for the majority of residents.
“By 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas, imposing even more pressure on the
space infrastructure and resources of cities, leading to social disintegration and horrific urban poverty,”
says Werner Fornos, president of the Washington-based Population Institute.

26. WHAT MAKES A CITY A “MEGA-CITY” AND
WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS?
continued:
Mega-cities Project and Yale Center for Study of Globalization
According to the World Resources Institute,
“Millions of children living in the world‟s largest cities… are exposed to life-threatening air
pollution two to eight times above the maximum tolerable level [as established by World
Health Organization guidelines].
Indeed, more than 80% of all deaths in developing countries attributable to air pollutioninduced lung infections are among children under five.”
One organization addressing the issue is the non-profit Mega-Cities Project, based at Trinity
College in Hartford, Connecticut. The organization has brought together a diverse international
group of community, government and business leaders to share ideas on ways to make megacities more ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE and economically vital. Indeed, the fate of many of
the world‟s poor rests with such efforts to smooth the transition to a planet where 60% of all
people crowd into a few dozen sprawling metropolises.
The rise of mega-cities, poses formidable challenges in health care and the environment…the urban poor in
developing countries live in squalor unlike anything they left behind…”
agrees The Washington Post

27. WHAT MAKES A CITY A “MEGA-CITY” AND
WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS?
continued:
Mega-cities Project and Yale Center for Study of Globalization
Worldwide, over a billion people live without regular access to clean water. Mega-city
residents, crowded into unsanitary slums, also fall victim to serious diseases. Lima, Peru (with
population estimated at 9.4 million by 2015) suffered a cholera outbreak in the early 1990s
partly because, as The New York Times reported,
“Rural people new to Lima…live in houses without running water and use the outhouses
that dot the hillsides above.”
Consumption of unsafe food and water subjects these people to regular and life-threatening
diarrhoea and dehydration.
“All the demographic data point to the 21st century emerging as the urban century,” says
Deane Neubauer of the Yale Centre for the Study of Globalization. “But evidence also
indicates that a vast portion of the new „megacities‟…will be infested by 19th-century-style
poverty.”
The rise of mega-cities, poses formidable challenges in health care and the environment…the urban poor in
developing countries live in squalor unlike anything they left behind…”
agrees The Washington Post

28. [Remember:
as cities grow and merge, new urban configurations are formed.]
Agglomerations (see also: Urban Agglomeration)
Agglomerations include a central city and neighbouring communities linked to it (e.g.) by
continuous built-up areas or commuters. Some agglomerations have more than one central
city (e.g. "The Ruhr").
Return to text
Alpha City
An alpha city is a city which plays a major role in the international community. Alpha cities
have tremendous economic, political, and social clout, and they are viewed as primary hubs
for global industry, in addition to centres of culture.
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Beta Cities
These are important world cities that are instrumental in linking their region or state into
the world economy.
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Caliph
The chief Muslim civil and religious ruler, regarded as the successor of Muhammad.
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Conurbation
An extended urban area, typically consisting of several towns merging with the suburbs of
one or more cities.
Return to text

29. Demographic
The study of population statistics.
migration.
It measures trends and tracks births, deaths and
Return to text
Demography
Demography is the study of statistics such as births, deaths, income, or the incidence of
disease, which illustrate the changing structure of human populations.
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Ecocity or Ecopolis [also called „Sustainable City‟] see also Sustainable City.
An Ecocity is a human settlement modelled on the self-sustaining resilient structure and
function of natural ecosystems. The ecocity provides healthy abundance to its inhabitants
without consuming more (renewable) resources than it produces, without producing more
waste than it can assimilate, and without being toxic to itself or neighbouring ecosystems.
Its inhabitants‟ ecological impact reflect planetary supportive lifestyles; its social order
reflects fundamental principles of fairness, justice and reasonable equity.
Return to text
Ecology
The branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their
physical surroundings. The study of the interaction of people with their environment.
Ekistics
Return to text
Ekistics mean the science of human settlements. It conceives of the human settlement as a
living organism having its own laws and, through the study of the evolution of human
settlements from their most primitive phase to Megalopolis and Ecumenopolis, develops the
interdisciplinary approach needed to solve its problems.

30. Gamma Cities
These can be world cities linking smaller regions or states into the world economy, or
important world cities whose major global capacity is not in advanced producer services.
Global City
See: World City
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Hegemony
Leadership or dominance, esp. by one country or social group.
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In-migration
To move into a different region of the same country or territory.
LEDC
Less Economically Developed Country – has low level of development based on economic
indicators such as GDP (Gross Domestic Product) ie country’s income.
MEDC
More Economically Developed Country - has high level of development based on economic
indicators such as GDP (Gross Domestic Product) ie the country’s income.
Megalopolis
A very large, heavily populated city or urban complex.
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31. Metacity (Hypercity)
A city with a population of over 20 million also called a hypercity.
A major conurbation – a megacity of more than 20 million people.
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Metroplex
A very large metropolitan area, esp. an aggregation of two or more cities.
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Metropolitan Area/Region
A formal local government area comprising the urban area as a whole and its primary
commuter areas, typically formed around a city with a large concentration of people (ie. a
population of at least 100,000).
Return to text
Migration
Migration is the movement of people from one place to another. The reasons for migration
can be economic, social, political or environmental.
There are usually push factors and pull factors at work.
Migration impacts on both the place left behind, and on the place where migrants settle.
• Internal migration is when people migrate within the same country or region.
• International migration is when people migrate from one country to another.
•
•
Emigration - when someone leaves a country.
Immigration - when someone enters a country.
Return to text

32. Population Density
Population density is an often reported and commonly compared statistic for places around
the world. Population density is the measure of the number per unit area. It is commonly
represented as people per square mile (or square kilometre), which is derived simply by
dividing...
total area population / land area in square miles (or square kilometres)
For example, Canada's population of 33 million, divided by the land area of 3,559,294
square miles yields a density of 9.27 people per square mile.
Return to text
Qualitative
Relating to, measuring, or measured by the quality of something rather than its quantity.
Quantitative
Return to text
Relating to, measuring, or measured by the quantity of something.
Rural
Return to text
Relating to the country and the people who live there instead of the city (urban area).
Rural Migration
A shift of population to urban areas.
Return to text
Return to text
Slums
Run-down area of a city characterized by substandard housing and squalor.
Return to text

33. Spatial Density
Spatial density deals with the space and not the number of things in it.
Return to text
Sustainable City (see also Ecocity)
A city with a liveable environment, a strong economy and a social and cultural sense of
community; sustainable cities enhance the well-being of current and future generations of
urban dwellers.
Sustainable Cities:
• are concerned about the state of the environment and how it effects it.
• take steps to preserve, reuse and reduce products.
• are green. Using green materials for construction and energy sources.
• generally have more citizens who; recycle and grow their own food.
• are PEOPLE BASED in that they focus less on expanding the economic boom of a city
and more on preservation of the environment for future generations.
HOWEVER, NO SUSTAINABLE CITY currently exists that uses and is completely committed to
the principles of a „people-based‟ city.
Return to text
Urban
Related to or located in a city.
The definition of „urban‟ varies from country to country and with periodic reclassification,
can also vary within one country overtime, making direct comparisons difficult.
NEXT 

34. Urban (continued)
An „Urban Area‟ can be defined by one or more of the following:
• Administrative criteria or political boundaries
e.g. area within the jurisdiction of a municipality or town committee.
•
A threshold population size
o i.e. where the minimum for an urban settlement is typically in the region of
2,000 people, although this varies globally between 200 and 50,000 people.
•
Population density
•
Economic function
o e.g. where a significant majority of the population is not primarily engaged in
agriculture or where there is surplus employment
•
The presence of „urban‟ characteristics
o e.g. paved streets, electric lighting, sewerage.
In 2010, 3.5 billion people lived in areas classified as „urban‟.
Return to text
Urban Agglomeration (see: Agglomerations)
The population of a built-up or densely populated area containing the city proper, suburbs
and continuously settled commuter areas or adjoining territory inhabited at urban levels of
residential density.
Return to text

35. The First Megacities Lecture February 1997, Rotterdam – Peter Hall
Megacities, World Cities, and Global Cities
By Peter Hall
The author of the first Megacities Lecture – in a series of lectures to be delivered by well known
authorities in the field of Megacities – is Peter Hall, Professor in Planning at the Bartlett School of
Planning in London. Peter Hall is specialized in metropolitan planning and can be considered the
founder of the concept “World Cities”. He published many books about the origin and development of
world cities.
How Rapidly Cities Are Growing [INFOGRAPHIC]
Infographic depicts 2011
January 15, 2012 by Arian de Raaf
A Trip to Ancient Greece: Megalopolis
Megalopolis: Site
Discover Ancient Rome in Google Earth
SMPL: 3D Rome Reconstruction

36. Megacities and Microcities
Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias: Ekistics
Resource efficiency in an urban context: Defining the framework of eco-municipalities
FOREIGN POLICY: The most dynamic cities of 2025
DICTIONARY.COM: Megacity
REFERENCE.COM: Megacity
Megacities in the Geography of Global Economic Governance
Mega-cities in Theoretical Perspective
City Populations and Data

37. 5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
House Group
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
Small Polis
(town)
Polis
(city)
Ecumenopolis
(Global City)
4
50,000 M
3
Eperopolis
XII
7,500 M
XI
Small Eperopolis
X
750M
IX
Megalopolis
VIII
150 M
VII
Small Megalopolis
VI
25 M
V
Metropolis
IV
House
Room
Anthropos
2
III
4M
Ekistic Elements
Ekistic
units
1
II
Small Metropolis
I
Community Scale
Nature
500 T
75 T
10 T
1.5 T
250
40
5
2
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
Anthropos
ANTHROPOS
One of the five ekistic elements, it is the Greek word for human
Society
being, used instead of the English word, “Man” (άμθρωπος),
since it Shells connotation distinguishing sex or age but means
has no
men and women equally, belonging to all age groups.
Networks
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 1
Synthesis:
Human Settlements
That is:
1 person

38. EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
Nature
Anthropos
ROOM
Society
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 2
That is:
2 people
Shells
Networks
Synthesis:
Human Settlements
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
House Group
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
Small Polis
(town)
Polis
(city)
Small Metropolis
Metropolis
Small Megalopolis
Megalopolis
Small Eperopolis
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(Global City)
1.5 T
10 T
75 T
500 T
4M
25 M
150 M
750M
7,500 M
50,000 M
250
40
II
House
2
5
Room
1
2
Ekistic
units
Anthropos
I
1
Ekistic Elements
Community Scale

39. EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
Nature
Anthropos
HOUSE
This term replaces „dwelling‟.
Society
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 5
Shells
That is:
3-5 people
Networks
Synthesis:
Human Settlements
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
House Group
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
Small Polis
(town)
Polis
(city)
Small Metropolis
Metropolis
Small Megalopolis
Megalopolis
Small Eperopolis
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(Global City)
10 T
75 T
500 T
4M
25 M
150 M
750M
7,500 M
50,000 M
1.5 T
250
40
II
House
2
5
Room
1
2
Ekistic
units
Anthropos
I
1
Ekistic Elements
Community Scale

40. Ekistic Elements
IX
X
XI
XII
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Small Polis
(town)
Polis
(city)
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(Global City)
Small Eperopolis
VIII
Megalopolis
VII
Small Megalopolis
VI
Metropolis
V
Small Metropolis
IV
Neighbourhood
House
III
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
3
II
House Group
(hamlet)
2
Anthropos
Ekistic
units
1
Room
I
Community Scale
Nature
Anthropos
HOUSE GROUP
This replaces „dwelling group‟.
Society
Also
Shells known as:
Hamlet:
A small
Networks settlement, generally one smaller than a village; also known as a thorp.
Synthesis:
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 40
Human Settlements
50,000 M
7,500 M
750M
150 M
25 M
4M
500 T
75 T
10 T
1.5 T
250
40
5
2
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
6-40 people
1
That is:

41. VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
House Group
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
Small Polis
(town)
Polis
(city)
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(Global City)
Small Eperopolis
VI
Megalopolis
V
Small Megalopolis
IV
Metropolis
III
House
2
Room
Anthropos
Ekistic
units
1
II
Small Metropolis
I
Community Scale
Ekistic Elements
Nature
Anthropos
SMALL NEIGHBOURHOOD
Society
NEIGHBOURHOOD
A district, esp. one forming a community within a town or city.
Shells
50,000 M
7,500 M
750M
25 M
4M
500 T
75 T
10 T
1.5 T
40
5
2
1
M = Million
250
EKISTIC
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 250
POPULATION:
That Thousand
41-250 people
T = is:
150 M
Also known as a:
Networks
Village:
Synthesis:
A group of houses and associated buildings, larger than a hamlet and smaller than a town, situated
Human Settlements
in a rural area.

42. 3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
House Group
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
Small Polis
(town)
Polis
(city)
Ecumenopolis
(Global City)
XII
50,000 M
XI
Eperopolis
X
7,500 M
IX
Small Eperopolis
VIII
750M
VII
Megalopolis
VI
Small Megalopolis
V
Metropolis
IV
House
Room
Anthropos
2
III
150 M
Ekistic Elements
Ekistic
units
1
II
Small Metropolis
I
Community Scale
Nature
Anthropos
NEIGHBOURHOOD
A district, esp. one forming a community within a town or city.
Society
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 1,500
Shells
That is:
251-1,500 people
Networks
25 M
4M
500 T
75 T
10 T
1.5 T
250
40
5
2
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
Synthesis:
Human Settlements

43. VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
House Group
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
Small Polis
(town)
Polis
(city)
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(Global City)
Small Eperopolis
VI
Megalopolis
V
Small Megalopolis
IV
Metropolis
III
House
2
Room
Anthropos
Ekistic
units
1
II
Small Metropolis
I
Community Scale
Ekistic Elements
SMALL POLIS Nature
POLIS
Anthropos
A city-state in ancient Greece. A City.
Etymology: Society
"ancient Greek city-state," 1894, from Greek polis (πόλις) "city, one's city; the state, citizens," from
Shells
PIE *pele- "citadel, enclosed space, often on high ground" (cf. Sanskrit pur,puram "city, citadel,"
Lithuanian pilis "fortress").
Networks
Online Etymology Dictionary: Polis
Synthesis:
Human Settlements a:
Also known as
7,500 M
750M
150 M
25 M
4M
500 T
75 T
10 T
1.5 T
50,000 M
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 10,000
That is:
1,501-10,000 people
250
40
5
2
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
Town:
EKISTIC
An urban area that has a name, defined boundaries, and local government, and that is larger than a
POPULATION:
village but smaller than a city.

44. Ekistic Elements
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
House Group
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
Small Polis
(town)
Polis
(city)
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(Global City)
Small Eperopolis
VI
Megalopolis
V
Small Megalopolis
IV
Metropolis
III
House
2
Room
Anthropos
Ekistic
units
1
II
Small Metropolis
I
Community Scale
Nature
POLIS Anthropos
A city-state in ancient Greece. A City.
Society
Etymology:
"ancient Greek city-state," 1894, from Greek polis (πόλις) "city, one's city; the state, citizens,"
Shells
from PIE *pele- "citadel, enclosed space, often on high ground" (cf. Sanskrit pur, puram "city,
citadel," Lithuanian pilis "fortress").
Networks
Online Etymology Dictionary: Polis
That is:
10,001-75,000 people
50,000 M
7,500 M
750M
150 M
25 M
4M
500 T
75 T
10 T
1.5 T
250
T = Thousand
M = Million
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 75,000
40
5
2
Also known as a:
City:
EKISTIC
A large town.
POPULATION:
1
Synthesis:
Human Settlements

45. VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
House Group
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
Small Polis
(town)
Polis
(city)
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(Global City)
Small Eperopolis
VI
Megalopolis
V
Small Megalopolis
IV
Metropolis
III
House
2
Room
Anthropos
Ekistic
units
1
II
Small Metropolis
I
Community Scale
Ekistic Elements
Nature
Anthropos
SMALL METROPOLIS
50,000 M
7,500 M
750M
25 M
4M
500 T
75 T
10 T
1.5 T
40
5
2
1
M = Million
250
EKISTIC
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 500,000
POPULATION:
That is:
75,001-500,000
T = Thousand
150 M
Society
Metropolis:
A major, Shells
multi-centre urban area with more than 50,000 people incorporating other small
settlements, both urban and rural, growing dynamically to sizes as high as ten million people. The
average Networks
population of such settlements between 50,000 and ten million inhabitants is of the
order of 2.5 million, while about one half of these settlements have a population varying between
Synthesis:
50,000 and 100,000. (μητρόπολη)
Human Settlements
Glossary DOXIADES: Metropolis

46. VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
House Group
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
Small Polis
(town)
Polis
(city)
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(Global City)
Small Eperopolis
VII
Megalopolis
VI
Small Megalopolis
V
Metropolis
IV
House
Room
Anthropos
2
III
Nature
Anthropos
METROPOLIS
7,500 M
750M
150 M
25 M
4M
500 T
75 T
1.5 T
250
40
5
2
1
POPULATION:
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 4,000,000
T = Thousand
M = Million is:
That
501,000-4,000,000
10 T
Society
Etymology:
• From Greek metropolis "mother city" (μητρόπολις) (from which others have been
Shells
colonized), also "capital city," from meter (μήτηρ) "mother" + polis (πόλις) "city" –
(parent
Networks state of a colony)
• Meaning "chief town or capital city of a province" is first attested 1580s, earlier
Synthesis:
metropol (late 14c.).
Human Settlements
• "seat of a metropolitan bishop," 1530s, from Late Latin metropolis.
Online Etymology Dictionary: Metropolis
EKISTIC
50,000 M
Ekistic Elements
Ekistic
units
1
II
Small Metropolis
I
Community Scale

47. Ekistic Elements
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
House Group
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
Small Polis
(town)
Polis
(city)
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(Global City)
Small Eperopolis
VI
Megalopolis
V
Small Megalopolis
IV
Metropolis
III
House
2
Room
Anthropos
Ekistic
units
1
II
Small Metropolis
I
Community Scale
Nature
Anthropos
SMALL MEGALOPOLIS
Society
MEGALOPOLIS
Also known as a:
Shells
Megapolis (Μεγάπολις) or Megaregion is typically defined as a chain of roughly adjacent
metropolitan areas, built by merging several cities and their suburbs.
Networks
7,500 M
750M
150 M
25 M
4M
500 T
75 T
10 T
1.5 T
250
40
5
2
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 25,000,000
That is:
4,000,001-25,000,000
50,000 M
Synthesis:
Human Settlements

48. Ekistic Elements
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
House Group
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
Small Polis
(town)
Polis
(city)
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(Global City)
Small Eperopolis
VI
Megalopolis
V
Small Megalopolis
IV
Metropolis
III
House
2
Room
Anthropos
Ekistic
units
1
II
Small Metropolis
I
Community Scale
Nature
Anthropos
MEGALOPOLIS
A very large, heavily populated city or urban complex. (Μεγαλόπολις)
Society
Also known as a:
Shells
Megapolis (Μεγάπολις) or Megaregion is typically defined as a chain of roughly adjacent metropolitan
areas, built by merging several cities and their suburbs.
Networks
Synthesis:
Etymology:
Human Settlements
1832 from combination form of Greek MEGAS (Μέγας) (genitive megalou «μεγάλου») “great” + POLIS
50,000 M
750M
150 M
25 M
4M
500 T
75 T
10 T
1.5 T
250
40
5
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 150,000,000
That is:
25,000,001-150,000,000
7,500 M
M = Million
2
1
(πόλις) “city”. The word was used in classical times as an epithet (descriptive word; adjective used
EKISTIC
as noun) of great cities (Athens, Syracuse, Alexandria), and it also was the name of a former city in
POPULATION:
Arcadia.
T = Thousand

49. Ekistic Elements
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
House Group
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
Small Polis
(town)
Polis
(city)
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(Global City)
Small Eperopolis
VI
Megalopolis
V
Small Megalopolis
IV
Metropolis
III
House
2
Room
Anthropos
Ekistic
units
1
II
Small Metropolis
I
Community Scale
Nature
Anthropos
SMALL EPEROPOLIS
Society
EPEROPOLIS (ηπειρόπολις)
Derived fromShellsGreek words epeiros (ήπειρος), "continent" and polis (πόλις), "city," it replaces the
the
old term "urbanized continent”, which corresponded to ekistic unit 14 and community class XI.
Networks
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 750,000,000
Synthesis:
That is:
150,000,001-750,000,000
50,000 M
7,500 M
750M
150 M
25 M
4M
500 T
75 T
10 T
1.5 T
250
40
5
2
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
Human Settlements

50. Ekistic Elements
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
House Group
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
Small Polis
(town)
Polis
(city)
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(Global City)
Small Eperopolis
VI
Megalopolis
V
Small Megalopolis
IV
Metropolis
III
House
2
Room
Anthropos
Ekistic
units
1
II
Small Metropolis
I
Community Scale
Nature
Anthropos
EPEROPOLIS
Derived from the Greek words epeiros (ήπειρος), "continent" and polis (πόλις), "city," it replaces
Society
the old term "urbanized continent”, which corresponded to ekistic unit 14 and community class XI.
Shells
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 7,500,000,000
That is:
750,000,001-7,500,000,000
Networks
50,000 M
7,500 M
750M
150 M
25 M
4M
500 T
75 T
10 T
1.5 T
250
40
5
2
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
Synthesis:
Human Settlements

51. Ekistic Elements
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
House Group
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
Small Polis
(town)
Polis
(city)
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(Global City)
Small Eperopolis
VI
Megalopolis
V
Small Megalopolis
IV
Metropolis
III
House
2
Room
Anthropos
Ekistic
units
1
II
Small Metropolis
I
Community Scale
Nature
Anthropos
ECUMENOPOLIS
Ecumenopolis (from Greek: οικουμέμη, meaning world, and πόλις (polis) meaning city, thus a
Society
city made of the whole world; pl. ecumenopolises or ecumenopoleis) is a word invented in
1967 byShells Greek city planner Constantinos Doxiadis to represent the idea that in the future
the
urban areas and megalopolises would eventually fuse and there would be a single continuous
worldwide city as a progression from the current urbanization and population growth trends.
Networks
Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias: Ecumenopolis
50,000 M
750M
150 M
25 M
4M
75 T
10 T
1.5 T
250
40
5
2
1
POPULATION:
TEKTISTIC POPULATION: 50,000,000,000
= Thousand
M = Million
That is:
7,500,000,001-50,000,000,000
500 T
Also known as:
Global City, Planet City, Universal City, City of the Universe, City of the Future
EKISTIC
7,500 M
Synthesis:
Human Settlements