A folio from a 15th-century Latin translation of Ptolemy’s influential “Geographia.
Long before people could look upon Earth from afar, the Greeks and the Romans of antiquity started dwelling upon the question of world’s size and shape. Their approaches differed: the philosophical Greeks, it has been said, measured the world by the stars; the practical, road-building Romans by milestones.
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The link between society and climate is unarguably substantial, historically as well as in our modern society. The extreme weather conditions caused by climate change result in dislocation of the population, cultural separation, habitation abandonment, and consequently societal collapse. Additional anthropogenic changes to the climate over the past two decades due to industrialisation result in an even higher rate of increase of extreme weather conditions. The summers get hotter and water scarcity increases. In order to avoid negative implications it is vital that culture and climate work together.
Alternative to ecologically damaging, socially intrusive and capital-intensive water management projects that fail to deliver their desired benefits, it would be useful investing in decentralized facilities, efficient technologies and policies, and human capital to improve overall productivity rather than to find new sources of water supply. Rainwater harvesting falls under this category.
In the case of the Thar desert (western…
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Source: Ancient Indian Maps
The Editors of Urban Studies have decided to mark the journal’s 50th birthday by putting together a virtual special issue showcasing the full extent of Urban Studies’ output over the past 50 years. The issue combines the five most cited Urban Studies articles, the five most downloaded, and the five most important published prior to 1990 (as collectively decided by the Editors).
You can access these articles for free until 31st December 2013 by visiting the 50th Anniversary Virtual Issue site. Simply click here
Vote for your Favourite Three
After enjoying your free access, you can vote for your three favourite articles by completing this voting form. The results of the voting will be announced at the end of the year, to coincide with the beginning of Urban Studies’ next 50 years!
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