ancient era, after 1000 BCE, the number of cities with over 10,000 inhabitants
increased not only in the mid-latitude arid region but also in monsoon Asia, upper
Eurasia, and Latin America. Cities of this size appeared later in the sub-Saharan
Africa and North America and Oceania regions, in the early medieval and late
medieval eras, respectively.
There were three cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants in the early ancient era
before 1000 BCE: Memphis, Thebes, and Avaris, all in Egypt. During the late
ancient era, 1000 BCE–300 AD, the number of cities of this size increased in the
mid-latitude arid region and monsoon Asia. There were only two in upper Eurasia,
which came into existence under the influence of the Roman Empire, and one in
Latin America, under another urban tradition. The larger cities with 100,000 inhabitants and over may have become local centers as a result of many small cities (in the
10,000–99,999 population range) merging over time. The appearance of these large
cities of 100,000 and more inhabitants occurred very late in the sub-Saharan Africa
and North America and Oceania regions. It was only in the premodern era that cities
of this size arose in these two regions, when Ibadan in Nigeria reached 100,000
inhabitants in 1900, and Boston and Philadelphia in the USA did so in 1825.
Cities of 400,000 and more inhabitants appeared in the late ancient era: Carthage
in 300 BCE, Changan and Alexandria in 200 BCE, Rome, Antioch, and Seleucia in
100 BCE, and Loyang in 200 CE. These cities were in the mid-latitude arid region.
Indeed, of these cities, the inhabitants of both Rome and Alexandria exceeded
1 million persons. In addition, in monsoon Asia, Patna in India exceeded 400,000
persons in 300 BCE. Cities of 400,000 and more persons appeared in the premodern
era in upper Eurasia as exemplified by Paris and London in 1650.
There were very few cities of 1 million inhabitants and above before 1800, and
the estimates are controversial as some suggest that their populations were less than
1 million. The cities that some consider to be of this size were, in the mid-latitude
arid region, Alexandria (100 BCE), Rome (1, 100, 200, and 300 CE), Changan
(700, 750, and 800 CE), Baghdad and Kaifeng (1000, 1100, 1200, and 1250 CE),
Beijing (1300 and 1500 CE) and, in monsoon Asia, Hangchow (1200, 1250 and
1300 CE) and Nanjing (1400 CE). These were the largest of the large cities, and it is
assumed that the urban characteristics meant that they remained continuously as
cities in the 400,000–999,999 range.
Before 1800, I assume a pyramidal structure of urban population sizes, with three
hierarchies: (1) an ordinary city with a population of 10,000–99,999 at the base of
the pyramid, (2) a medium-sized city or local center city with a population of
100,000–399,999 in the middle, and (3) a primary city or capital city with over a
population of 400,000–999,999 and 1,000,000–3999,999 at the top. This composition remained stable in the mid-latitude arid region and monsoon Asia after
1000 BCE and in upper Europe from 1650 to 1800.
In 1800, Beijing and Edo (Tokyo) were the only two cities with populations of
1 million and above, but the number of cities of this size increased during the
nineteenth century, such that by 1900 there were 17 worldwide. After 1800, many
cities in upper Eurasia and North America and Oceania had populations exceeding
400,000 (and even 1 million), including London and New York, which reached
5 Regional Diversity and Sustainability of Megacities in Global Historical. . .
81
increased not only in the mid-latitude arid region but also in monsoon Asia, upper
Eurasia, and Latin America. Cities of this size appeared later in the sub-Saharan
Africa and North America and Oceania regions, in the early medieval and late
medieval eras, respectively.
There were three cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants in the early ancient era
before 1000 BCE: Memphis, Thebes, and Avaris, all in Egypt. During the late
ancient era, 1000 BCE–300 AD, the number of cities of this size increased in the
mid-latitude arid region and monsoon Asia. There were only two in upper Eurasia,
which came into existence under the influence of the Roman Empire, and one in
Latin America, under another urban tradition. The larger cities with 100,000 inhabitants and over may have become local centers as a result of many small cities (in the
10,000–99,999 population range) merging over time. The appearance of these large
cities of 100,000 and more inhabitants occurred very late in the sub-Saharan Africa
and North America and Oceania regions. It was only in the premodern era that cities
of this size arose in these two regions, when Ibadan in Nigeria reached 100,000
inhabitants in 1900, and Boston and Philadelphia in the USA did so in 1825.
Cities of 400,000 and more inhabitants appeared in the late ancient era: Carthage
in 300 BCE, Changan and Alexandria in 200 BCE, Rome, Antioch, and Seleucia in
100 BCE, and Loyang in 200 CE. These cities were in the mid-latitude arid region.
Indeed, of these cities, the inhabitants of both Rome and Alexandria exceeded
1 million persons. In addition, in monsoon Asia, Patna in India exceeded 400,000
persons in 300 BCE. Cities of 400,000 and more persons appeared in the premodern
era in upper Eurasia as exemplified by Paris and London in 1650.
There were very few cities of 1 million inhabitants and above before 1800, and
the estimates are controversial as some suggest that their populations were less than
1 million. The cities that some consider to be of this size were, in the mid-latitude
arid region, Alexandria (100 BCE), Rome (1, 100, 200, and 300 CE), Changan
(700, 750, and 800 CE), Baghdad and Kaifeng (1000, 1100, 1200, and 1250 CE),
Beijing (1300 and 1500 CE) and, in monsoon Asia, Hangchow (1200, 1250 and
1300 CE) and Nanjing (1400 CE). These were the largest of the large cities, and it is
assumed that the urban characteristics meant that they remained continuously as
cities in the 400,000–999,999 range.
Before 1800, I assume a pyramidal structure of urban population sizes, with three
hierarchies: (1) an ordinary city with a population of 10,000–99,999 at the base of
the pyramid, (2) a medium-sized city or local center city with a population of
100,000–399,999 in the middle, and (3) a primary city or capital city with over a
population of 400,000–999,999 and 1,000,000–3999,999 at the top. This composition remained stable in the mid-latitude arid region and monsoon Asia after
1000 BCE and in upper Europe from 1650 to 1800.
In 1800, Beijing and Edo (Tokyo) were the only two cities with populations of
1 million and above, but the number of cities of this size increased during the
nineteenth century, such that by 1900 there were 17 worldwide. After 1800, many
cities in upper Eurasia and North America and Oceania had populations exceeding
400,000 (and even 1 million), including London and New York, which reached
5 Regional Diversity and Sustainability of Megacities in Global Historical. . .
81