Commercial and financial projects of ever increasing scale have spawned new city models in Amsterdam, London and New York over the course of 400 years; a look at the past 400 years to see how the cities have contributed to world-wide development.
EPISODE 1
A Golden Century: 1585-1656
At the end of the 16th century, merchants from Amsterdam embark on a perilous journey to Asia in order to search for spices; Amsterdam is enriched and creates the bases of liberal capitalism; London is a developing trading center.
EPISODE 2
Clashes: 1650-1800
In 1664, the English seized New Amsterdam and renamed it New York; two years later, London was devastated by a fire; the city takes the opportunity to modernize.
EPISODE 3
Metropolis: 1800-1880
In the 19th century, the face of Manhattan radically changed with massive immigration and economic growth; London saw a great change with the arrival of the metro and of the pavilion of the Universal Exhibition in 1851.
EPISODE 4
Global Cities: 1880-2017
After 1900, London and New York compete in urban excess; the American metropolis saw the birth of many tall, steel buildings with elevators; she invented a horizon with her skyscrapers, including the Woolworth Building in 1913.
Frédéric Wilner
