This survey course presents a historical overview of the built environment of the cities of Asia from antiquity to the present. Most surveys of the city focus on the West, even though the earliest neolithic settlements are found in western Asia, and the first true cities were constructed between the Tigris and Euphrates around 3500 B.C. Max Weber's work on the City was influential in drawing a contrast between Western and non-Western cities, arguing that "urban communities" and hence "true cities" were only found in the West. This course seeks does not seek to essentialize Western or non-Western cities. Instead, it seeks to explore common themes woven through the diverse geographical regions and cultures of Asia.

The aim of this course is to examine the architectural and urban legacy of the past and present in its social and historical context. In this course, we will look at the rise of cities in Asia, study the influence of Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman planning traditions on their colonies in Asia, examine debates surrounding the Islamic city, explore the role of religious ideas and practices in shaping the city, and discuss the relationship between sovereign power and the city. We will then move on to see the ways in which colonial ideologies-French, British, Dutch-were used to reshape existing cities and build new ones. In the postcolonial context, this course will analyze the rise of nationalism and the influence of western architects and planners such as Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn in introducing “modernization” and shaping a vision of architecture and urbanism appropriate to the newly independent states of Asia.

As the world becomes increasingly integrated into a global network, we see the emergence of world cities in Asia. At the same, a large majority of the population in many Asian cities live in slums. Are these spaces of despair or can they also be seen as vibrant settlements? This course will also highlight the role of violence in reshaping the city. Finally, we will explore how migrants from Asia influenced cities in Asia and other parts of the world. We will look at both the origins of cities and their transformation over time, and examine the physical city in order to understand the texture of urban life.