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 City" examines 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 City" will appeal to those with an interest in historical and urban geography, history, military history, and international relations.

Cities have evolved from small urban systems designed to withstand attack from without. The demands of the modern city have shifted the focus to the dangers of internal violence. War and the City analyses the role of cities in war and the effects of war on cities.

List of Tables List of Figures Preface 1. Introduction 2. The Fortified City 3. The Defence Town 4. The Insurgent City 5. The City as Battle Terrain 6. The Air Defence of Cities 7. The Re-use of Redundant Defence Systems 8. Defence as Heritage 9. The City and Defence References Index

Gregory J. Ashworth