6. CITIES OF THE EAST
The Crusaders came to lands of splendour. In the hot sun, from Persia to Egypt, to Morocco and Spain, had arisen a host of fine cities.
The Moslems were the greatest city builders in history. Their cities had huge markets; great schools of learning; hospitals and baths. 7. CENTRES OF CIVILISATION
Some of them saw Baghdad - City of Haroun Al Rashid - hero of the Arabian Nights. It was famed as a city of culture and good manners.
Cairo a fabulous city of art and commerce; Damascus was another centre of civilisation - with its tall houses and hanging lamps across the streets. 8. TRADE & BUSINESS
The trade routes began to open up - across Flanders, Germany and Northern Italy.
The city states of Germany and Italy came to life. Pisa, Venice and Genoa began to take over business from the Moslems.
9. HIGH FLATS IN GENOA
Genoa thrived. People packed into the port and so the buildings soared upwards.
It is recorded as having the highest buildings of the times - with people living in tenements 7 storeys high.
10. OVER TO ENGLAND
The Normans not only went eastwards. They came across the Channel. A small band of them led by Duke William of Normandy landed and conquered Britain.
They had a short, sharp fight and then the country and history was theirs.
|
11. LONDON AND THE TOWER
London surrendered without a fight to William. But he remained suspicious of the city. He built his first fortress - the Tower - so he could overawe it.
Interestingly, his distrust of London has been reflected by our rulers for the last thousand years.
London has never been favoured by the Government. No effort has been made to make it a city worthy to rank as a world capital.
Even today the government is sparing in its help to London. Other cities may have splendid shopping arcades and municipal buildings, but London is left to its own resources.
12. AND YET
And yet London in another way has been extraordinary lucky. Since 1066 it has been the only great city that has never been conquered or pillaged.
Nature has also been kind to London - no great floods, typhoons or hurricanes have ravaged the city.
London has only suffered from the neglect of its rulers and people.
13. A CROWDED CITY
London at the time of the Conquest and in the following years was exceptionally crowded.
The citizens huddled behind their city walls and places like Islington were wild forests.
Because its walls enclosed such a small area, London soon had to build outside its walls. Suburbs became an early feature of London life.
In continental towns where there was more space - and where times were more unsettled - cities stayed behind their walls for a much longer period.
14. HIGH RISE EUROPE - LOW RISE ENGLAND
In England city walls were symbolic, in Europe they were protective.
To keep behind their defensive walls, the continentals had to build upwards. English towns could sprawl outwards.
15. DIFFERENT STYLES OF TOWN LIFE
At an early age, therefore, the townspeople on the continent had to get used to living on top of each other. They developed a style pf city life - with piazzas, boulevards and blocks of flats.
On the other hand, if he had the money the Englishman could always build his semi-detached.
It was only in the 19th century that English people began to live in flats. Even now flats seem alien way of life to many English people. |
