This unit will study the urban history of important cities of the ancient and modern (including medieval) world. Students will choose two (2) major historical cities and study one or more key aspects of those cities - their social fabric, political structure, history, archaeology, economy, and art and architecture. The chosen topic(s) within a city will be related to ideas of the importance of the urban centre as the crucible of ancient and modern civilisation, and concepts of urbanisation and the city as a human institution. Students will study the role of the city in general as the pivotal focus of most civilisations, and what cities have contributed to human history. European, Asian, Australian, American, and other cities can be examined.