| Popis: |
From the earliest records of ancient civilizations to present-day accounts of the knowledge-economy, the geographic concentration of people and their activity has been and always will be a constant feature of human existence. In broad historical terms, the concentration of people in villages, towns, and cities has served many cultural, security, and commercial ends (Kotkin, 2005). Dense pockets of people enable a shared culture, ease enforcement of the rule of law, facilitate a common defense, allow efficient economic exchange, and free people to acquire specialized skills and knowledge. In the modern era, the defensive walls of ancient cities have given way to the provision of public goods and the operation of local markets open to all to buy and sell consumer and commercial necessities. |
