"Harold Carter provides a historical introduction to the geography of towns. The book is written from the standpoint that any understanding of present towns must derive to a great extent from a consideration of the changing patterns of distribution and internal structure during past times, and the processes which were operative in creating them. The author shows how the central themes of urban geography have evolved--city systems, town plan, urban land uses, social areas--whilst at the same time presenting a general review of the origin and spread of urbanism. The examples and illustrations encompass the earliest period to the twentieth century, including the layout of the first cities, the Greek city and the Mediterranean, the origins of the towns of England, Renaissance and baroque towns in Europe, the urbanization of North America, and the modern city, pre=industrial and industrial."--Back cover