By John F. Sase
For Julie, whose patience, encouragement, and support helped me see this to completion.
For Gerard Senick who applies his editing skills developed at Gale Research in Detroit.
Monocentric urban-regional models probably have roots more ancient than previously reported in recent centuries. Samuelson (introduce in Part One) and others have traced the monocentric model back to The Isolated State of Von Thunen. Nevertheless, evidence exists that dates monocentric urban models and monocentric urban sites from primitive times.
For example, ancient monocentric urban thought reached an apex within Ancient Greece. Plato developed a set of monocentric urban allegories based on the mathematical tradition which may date back to the Sumero-Babylonian period.
This Platonic tradition, along with numerous prominent ancient traditions that survived through the Middle Ages of recent millennium, now appear to have influenced a line of monocentric urban thought which began during the Renaissance Period and continues to this day.
1.PURPOSE
This segment of our story offers the reader a two-fold purpose. First, the chronicling of the evolution of the Monocentric Urban Concept in Western thought and practice offers the field of Economics a deeper historical foundation that supports the relevance of monocentric models. Second, our current research provides substantiated material with which to extend our Standard Urban Model.
Consistent with the existing model, the need exists for revised models that sufficiently address our recent urban growth issues. These include the development of major urban manufacturing, servicing, and emergence of retail subcenters in recent decades. Such developments have often overshadowed older central business districts.
In tracing the evolution of monocentric urban-regional thought from ancient times to the present, this part of the story also helps to uncover numerous ancient variations of the monocentric model which may prove useful for model revision. Our monocentric model stands as one of many urban models.
For example, Lynch presents a range of general urban models that include the “star” (i.e. monocentric radial), the linear city, and the rectangular city. Lynch implies that a sole universal urban model does not exist because most cities develop in numerous and distinctly different manners.
Nevertheless, the monocentric model forms the basis of our Standard Urban Model as developed by Professors Losch, Mills, and others. As stated, the field usually traces modern monocentric urban-regional models back to The Isolated State of Von Thunen. Within his tradition, monocentric models (also known as modern concentric-zone urban land-use models) generally describe a central urban area surrounded by numerous employment and residential rings.
However, evidence suggests that much earlier locational models bear striking similarities to contemporary models. Our ancient monocentric models often include features such as radial pathways and employment subcenters—features not always found in modern models. Indeed, these earlier models predate the work of Von Thunen by more than two millenia.
Therefore, traditional sources for this meta-history of the monocentric urban model draw upon a range of sources. These academic sources include our fields of anthropology, archeology, history, philosophy, and religious studies.
2.PRIMITIVE ROOTS OF MONOCENTRIC THOUGHT
Our ancient monocentric models reached their culmination in development and a refinement through the techniques that emerged during classical age in Greece. Furthermore, we may trace this legacy of ancient urban models back to the era of pre-history.
The mathematical tools available to the ancient Greek culture form the foundation for our formulation of modern models. Plato and other ancients appear to have derived monocentric spatial models from the ever-growing reservoir of mathematics, symbols, myths, and elementary ideas in their era.
Not only do the ancient and modern models appear to have an elementary numerical foundation in the development of their stories, but such stories also employ the circle, triangle, and cone (vortex) as a basis for many allegories. Within this use, mathematical concepts as these appear to have their roots within ancient mythology.
Joseph Campbell indicated that there exists every reason to believe that this ancient mythology (into which, at some unknown date, accurate numerical insight was introduced), date back to the Sumero-Babylonian period, or earlier.
Mircea Eliade, Romanian historian of religion, fiction writer, philosopher, and professor at the University of Chicago, offered an underlying raison d'etre to the existence of monocentric cities presented within urban studies. He accomplished this task by presenting many examples from both primitive and traditional societies. Eliade stated that because traditional cultures believe that human beings need holy sites to form the center of a settlement, the principal cosmological image across cultures has been a cosmic pillar supporting heaven.
It is from this pillar that a sequence of conceptions and images emerges to form a System of the World. Eliade stated that this sacred place breaks the homogeneity of space. Such a break constitutes an axis around which our world is located. From this point, Eliade surmised that this axis forms the center of the world.
He further stated that this center often represents a real or mythical mountain. Analogous to these mountains, we may believe that holy sites, such as mounds, temples and churches stand situated at the center of the world.
According to Eliade, traditional societies characteristically reflect this macrocosm in their microcosm while reiterating images of the world upon increasingly smaller scales through a multiplicity of centers. The cosmogony of traditional cultures forms the paradigmatic model for their every construction.
Through this principle, the settling of a territory appears equivalent to the founding of a world. Buildings also have roots in the transcendent. On the most microcosmic level, Eliade states that cosmic symbolism appears in the structure of housing. The tent, house, or other structure constitutes an image of the world. This follows from the primitive belief that traditional cultures conceive of the sky as a vast tent supported by a central pillar of the world. Per Andreas Losch, one can not only consider a modern city as a microcosm of the world, but three-dimensional renderings of “the modern model” appears actually in the form of a tent.
Therefore, Eliade concludes that traditional societies derive symbols and rituals having to do with temples, cities, and houses from the primary experience of sacred space. This theme, which has endured throughout history and across cultures, forms our common thread that runs throughout the early evolution of the monocentric urban model.
3.MONOCENTRICITY IN HISTORY:
A MONOCENTRIC CULMINATION IN GREEK THOUGHT
It appears that earlier the monocentric cosmologies of Greece, such as those of Anaximander and Parmenides, inspired Plato's monocentric urban models. Professor William Furley presents the Greek Cosmologies of Anaximander and Parmenides that provide models for understanding modern social and economic relations within ancient Greek culture.
However, Plato applies these same models in conjunction with the mathematics communicated by Pythagoras to create his mathematical allegories of the perfect city-state.
Essentially, the models of Plato provide mathematical allegories. Prof. Robert Brumbaugh of Yale stated that much of the work which the early Greek philosophers and scientists thought of as mathematics does not match the mathematics in its twentieth-century form at all. However, their fundamental concepts of algebra, proportions, and geometry form the basis of contemporary mathematics. It appears that Pythagoras introduced the analytical tools used by Plato to ancient Greece. The Germane aspects of his teachings can be traced back to the Sumero-Babylonian age of the previous millennium.
————————
Adapted from my Doctoral Dissertation (Wayne State University, 1992)
————————
Dr. John F. Sase teaches Economics at Wayne State University and has practiced Forensic and Investigative Economics for twenty years. He earned a combined M.A. in Economics and an MBA at the University of Detroit, followed by a Ph.D. in Economics from Wayne State University. He is a graduate of the University of Detroit Jesuit High School (www.saseassociates.com).
For Julie, whose patience, encouragement, and support helped me see this to completion.
For Gerard Senick who applies his editing skills developed at Gale Research in Detroit.
Monocentric urban-regional models probably have roots more ancient than previously reported in recent centuries. Samuelson (introduce in Part One) and others have traced the monocentric model back to The Isolated State of Von Thunen. Nevertheless, evidence exists that dates monocentric urban models and monocentric urban sites from primitive times.
For example, ancient monocentric urban thought reached an apex within Ancient Greece. Plato developed a set of monocentric urban allegories based on the mathematical tradition which may date back to the Sumero-Babylonian period.
This Platonic tradition, along with numerous prominent ancient traditions that survived through the Middle Ages of recent millennium, now appear to have influenced a line of monocentric urban thought which began during the Renaissance Period and continues to this day.
1.PURPOSE
This segment of our story offers the reader a two-fold purpose. First, the chronicling of the evolution of the Monocentric Urban Concept in Western thought and practice offers the field of Economics a deeper historical foundation that supports the relevance of monocentric models. Second, our current research provides substantiated material with which to extend our Standard Urban Model.
Consistent with the existing model, the need exists for revised models that sufficiently address our recent urban growth issues. These include the development of major urban manufacturing, servicing, and emergence of retail subcenters in recent decades. Such developments have often overshadowed older central business districts.
In tracing the evolution of monocentric urban-regional thought from ancient times to the present, this part of the story also helps to uncover numerous ancient variations of the monocentric model which may prove useful for model revision. Our monocentric model stands as one of many urban models.
For example, Lynch presents a range of general urban models that include the “star” (i.e. monocentric radial), the linear city, and the rectangular city. Lynch implies that a sole universal urban model does not exist because most cities develop in numerous and distinctly different manners.
Nevertheless, the monocentric model forms the basis of our Standard Urban Model as developed by Professors Losch, Mills, and others. As stated, the field usually traces modern monocentric urban-regional models back to The Isolated State of Von Thunen. Within his tradition, monocentric models (also known as modern concentric-zone urban land-use models) generally describe a central urban area surrounded by numerous employment and residential rings.
However, evidence suggests that much earlier locational models bear striking similarities to contemporary models. Our ancient monocentric models often include features such as radial pathways and employment subcenters—features not always found in modern models. Indeed, these earlier models predate the work of Von Thunen by more than two millenia.
Therefore, traditional sources for this meta-history of the monocentric urban model draw upon a range of sources. These academic sources include our fields of anthropology, archeology, history, philosophy, and religious studies.
2.PRIMITIVE ROOTS OF MONOCENTRIC THOUGHT
Our ancient monocentric models reached their culmination in development and a refinement through the techniques that emerged during classical age in Greece. Furthermore, we may trace this legacy of ancient urban models back to the era of pre-history.
The mathematical tools available to the ancient Greek culture form the foundation for our formulation of modern models. Plato and other ancients appear to have derived monocentric spatial models from the ever-growing reservoir of mathematics, symbols, myths, and elementary ideas in their era.
Not only do the ancient and modern models appear to have an elementary numerical foundation in the development of their stories, but such stories also employ the circle, triangle, and cone (vortex) as a basis for many allegories. Within this use, mathematical concepts as these appear to have their roots within ancient mythology.
Joseph Campbell indicated that there exists every reason to believe that this ancient mythology (into which, at some unknown date, accurate numerical insight was introduced), date back to the Sumero-Babylonian period, or earlier.
Mircea Eliade, Romanian historian of religion, fiction writer, philosopher, and professor at the University of Chicago, offered an underlying raison d'etre to the existence of monocentric cities presented within urban studies. He accomplished this task by presenting many examples from both primitive and traditional societies. Eliade stated that because traditional cultures believe that human beings need holy sites to form the center of a settlement, the principal cosmological image across cultures has been a cosmic pillar supporting heaven.
It is from this pillar that a sequence of conceptions and images emerges to form a System of the World. Eliade stated that this sacred place breaks the homogeneity of space. Such a break constitutes an axis around which our world is located. From this point, Eliade surmised that this axis forms the center of the world.
He further stated that this center often represents a real or mythical mountain. Analogous to these mountains, we may believe that holy sites, such as mounds, temples and churches stand situated at the center of the world.
According to Eliade, traditional societies characteristically reflect this macrocosm in their microcosm while reiterating images of the world upon increasingly smaller scales through a multiplicity of centers. The cosmogony of traditional cultures forms the paradigmatic model for their every construction.
Through this principle, the settling of a territory appears equivalent to the founding of a world. Buildings also have roots in the transcendent. On the most microcosmic level, Eliade states that cosmic symbolism appears in the structure of housing. The tent, house, or other structure constitutes an image of the world. This follows from the primitive belief that traditional cultures conceive of the sky as a vast tent supported by a central pillar of the world. Per Andreas Losch, one can not only consider a modern city as a microcosm of the world, but three-dimensional renderings of “the modern model” appears actually in the form of a tent.
Therefore, Eliade concludes that traditional societies derive symbols and rituals having to do with temples, cities, and houses from the primary experience of sacred space. This theme, which has endured throughout history and across cultures, forms our common thread that runs throughout the early evolution of the monocentric urban model.
3.MONOCENTRICITY IN HISTORY:
A MONOCENTRIC CULMINATION IN GREEK THOUGHT
It appears that earlier the monocentric cosmologies of Greece, such as those of Anaximander and Parmenides, inspired Plato's monocentric urban models. Professor William Furley presents the Greek Cosmologies of Anaximander and Parmenides that provide models for understanding modern social and economic relations within ancient Greek culture.
However, Plato applies these same models in conjunction with the mathematics communicated by Pythagoras to create his mathematical allegories of the perfect city-state.
Essentially, the models of Plato provide mathematical allegories. Prof. Robert Brumbaugh of Yale stated that much of the work which the early Greek philosophers and scientists thought of as mathematics does not match the mathematics in its twentieth-century form at all. However, their fundamental concepts of algebra, proportions, and geometry form the basis of contemporary mathematics. It appears that Pythagoras introduced the analytical tools used by Plato to ancient Greece. The Germane aspects of his teachings can be traced back to the Sumero-Babylonian age of the previous millennium.
————————
Adapted from my Doctoral Dissertation (Wayne State University, 1992)
————————
Dr. John F. Sase teaches Economics at Wayne State University and has practiced Forensic and Investigative Economics for twenty years. He earned a combined M.A. in Economics and an MBA at the University of Detroit, followed by a Ph.D. in Economics from Wayne State University. He is a graduate of the University of Detroit Jesuit High School (www.saseassociates.com).
