Cities of the Ancient World

Cities are integral to modern lives; why wandering ancient humans leave the forests and plains to create settlements; the fundamental question of "why" is the first step toward understanding the inhabitants and lessons from ancient cities.

Imagining a city with no streets, public buildings or common spaces; the world's first city offers an intriguing window into life in the Neolithic era; exploring the remains of Catalhoyuk's family housing, murals and religious shrines.

The story of the walls of Jericho in the Book of Joshua; looking past the biblical story; what architectural remains suggest about Jericho, whose ritual spaces help create a community and whose walls help define the urban environment.

Looking at one of the most marvelous cities in the ancient world; Uruk exhibits many of the hallmarks of ancient civilization; division of labor among its craftsmen; a class hierarchy that includes professional priests; records of art and literature.

The Indus Valley is home of one of ancient civilization's great unknowns; why people are reliant on the archeological record to understand the culture of cities such as Mohenjo-Daro; touring its so-called citadel; examining its water systems.

The world of ancient Egypt during the era of the Middle Kingdom; paid laborers build tombs and temples for the pharaohs; to house the laborers, the Egyptians build Kahun; a planned city whose walls and layout reinforce the system of social class.