Explore the social and cultural history of 100 of the world's most important cities.From the first towns in Mesopotamia to today's global metropolises, cities have marked the progress of civilisation. Written in the form of illustrated "biographies", Great Cities offers a rich historical overview of each featured city, brought to vivid life with paintings, photographs, timelines, maps, and artefacts.This history book provides a fascinating insight into the events, movements and people throughout history who have shaped the cities where we live. Inside the pages of this visual guide, discover:- The story behind each city - how it was established, critical moments in its development, and why it is considered historically significant- The different types of cities, from the centres of ancient and lost civilisations and great river cities to planned cities and modern metropolises- Beautiful illustrations with large-scale reproductions of paintings, photographs, maps, and other artefacts- Stunning images of city life and key moments in history are complemented by close-ups of revealing details and feature panels that provide additional context