“What is the city? How does it come into existence?” These questions ring clear in the opening chapter of Mumford’s book, as he sets out on a journey to discover the deeper meaning of today’s all-to-common city structure. The quest for understanding the fabric of the city is not formed simply on the physical remnants of ancient artifacts, but on uncovering and connecting fragments of the development of religious, technological and societal structures.
Within this framework, Mumford exemplifies the influence of certain elements on the overall beginnings of civilization. These being: the cave – a sanctuary, religious or otherwise, for the rituals of Paleolithic and Neolithic man; the container – a symbol of stronghold and collective protection created by woman, like a village …show more content…
Priority was given to the bodies of the dead, as they were the first to be moved from the crowded city to a more desirable resting spot outside the city. A link is made here, to the practices of Paleolithic man, who returned to a similar resting spot housed in caves, which became a ritual centre (pg. 7) for many groups of people. The cave, as defined earlier, became a sanctuary for ritual and art and the many paintings and carvings on these walls stood to tell the stories of that history.
The words Paleolithic and Neolithic are used to describe different eras in history. These eras are a significant part of Mumford’s writing, as he writes to explore the important role they play in the formation of the city. Paleolithic (pg. 7) in Mumford’s writing, is the time of wandering, foraging, and hunting – a nomadic era. Neolithic (pg. 12) is the time of settlement, stronghold, cultivation, and growth – a domestic era. Most importantly the Neolithic era was so developmental that, since this time, man has scarce added any type of “domestic” plant or animal to the list of what was produced at that
Within this framework, Mumford exemplifies the influence of certain elements on the overall beginnings of civilization. These being: the cave – a sanctuary, religious or otherwise, for the rituals of Paleolithic and Neolithic man; the container – a symbol of stronghold and collective protection created by woman, like a village …show more content…
Priority was given to the bodies of the dead, as they were the first to be moved from the crowded city to a more desirable resting spot outside the city. A link is made here, to the practices of Paleolithic man, who returned to a similar resting spot housed in caves, which became a ritual centre (pg. 7) for many groups of people. The cave, as defined earlier, became a sanctuary for ritual and art and the many paintings and carvings on these walls stood to tell the stories of that history.
The words Paleolithic and Neolithic are used to describe different eras in history. These eras are a significant part of Mumford’s writing, as he writes to explore the important role they play in the formation of the city. Paleolithic (pg. 7) in Mumford’s writing, is the time of wandering, foraging, and hunting – a nomadic era. Neolithic (pg. 12) is the time of settlement, stronghold, cultivation, and growth – a domestic era. Most importantly the Neolithic era was so developmental that, since this time, man has scarce added any type of “domestic” plant or animal to the list of what was produced at that