War and the City

The demands of the modern city have shifted the focus from small urban systems designed to withstand attack from outside to the dangers of internal violence. Defense--always a priority for urban planners--has often shaped the choice of location and site, architecture and physical form, and even the organization of urban societies. Similarly, cities have influenced the shape of conflict, both in external attack and internal insurrection, and at times have had both active and passive roles. War and the Cityexamines the relationship between war as an activity and cities as particular spatial settings. Political, social, economic and technological change have all brought their myriad influences to urban development. In this important study, Greg Ashworth synthesizes military history and the geography of urban defense to question both the past and the future of the city at war.War and the Citywill appeal to those with an interest in historical and urbangeography, history, military history, and international relations.