Customer Reviews

The City

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This book is a good book, but not for any of the reasons one would normally associate with a fun read. Let me just say that this book is not fun to read, it just is not. Rather, it takes quite a bit of work to wade through Weber's insights into the nature of cities.So I will do you a favor and let you know what he argues influenced the development of cities. Weber argues that the development of cities in European culture as an autonomous associations with its own municipal officials was influenced by three factors. First, the religion of Christianity. Second, privileged legal position of the citizens (based upon citizen's obligation for military service). Third, decline of religious sanctions of kinship solidarity that facilitated creation of unified urban community. To get to these insights would require a lot of effort, and I am not sure that these views into the natures of cities would be worth the hassle for most people.