Mediterranean cities and sustainable development
Introduction
“The Mediterranean is a multitude of maritime and land routes, linked amongst themselves, hence cities, from the most humble to medium and large, all holding each other by the hand. Roads, more roads becoming a system of circulation”.
These are the words of Fernand Braudel, 20th century historian and expert on the Mediterranean, for whom its cities are fixed points on the maps that feed on movement. He refers to these as “Space-movement”, because the organization of social life in the spaces of a city , pulsates between movement and permanency.
The city and the Mediterranean are two inseparable ‘geographic objects’. The historic events of this area contributed a vital role to the urban settlements and cities, even before the very States, Empires or Nations, have been the true protagonists for many centuries. From the Greek Polis to the coasts of North Africa and the Valley of the Nile, the city has been the territorial mirror of the social, political and economic transformation.
And the kind of growth and development of Mediterranean cities was strongly influenced by the geographic conditions. The narrow coastal plains, bordering on mountain or desert , forced urban development towards the coasts, with exceptions towards mainland development.
Obviously the urbanization processes have followed different paths: in European cities growth was preceded and accompanied by industrialization which forced the suburban economy towards urban centres and ,to this day, urban inhabitants of the western regions are going through a phase of ‘depression’.
In the Asian and African cities of the Mediterranean development has been more confused, lacking organization, whilst in the Balkan regions, years of town planning has driven the populations towards the capitals.
A common factor throughout the Mediterranean basin is the continuous increase in the rate of urbanization towards coastal towns and capital cities. It is foreseeable that by 2030 more than 70% of the Mediterranean population will be living in a urban area, to the detriment of rural and internal areas.
Introduction
The Mediterranean and city spirit
Cities of the Mediterranean: Is...
Coastal and Port towns: areas o...
Urban and sustainable developme...
Conclusion
Bibliography
Abstract
“The Mediterranean is a multitude of maritime and land routes, linked amongst themselves, hence cities, from the most humble to medium and large, all holding each other by the hand. Roads, more roads becoming a system of circulation”. These are the words of Fernand Braudel, 20th century historian and expert on the Mediterranean, for whom its cities are fixed points on the maps that feed on movement. He refers to these as “Space-movement”, because the organization of social life in the spaces of a city , pulsates between movement and permanency. ...
Author
ALTERIO Tiziana
Journalist - Global Vision / ilmediterraneo.it