4000 BC

Mesopotamian Cities

1. Located in the Middle East in the Tigris-Euphrates river valley
2. Farmers lived outside city walls within walking distance of fields
3. Agricultural cities (wheat, barley, sheep, goats)
4. Walled cities with populations pf about 25,000
Source: University of Washington

2500 BC

Cities of the Harappa Civilization

1. Along Indus river in what is now Western Pakistan
2. Important cities were Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
3. Streets were straight and laid out in gridiron pattern forming​
4. Precincts/areas distinguished by specific economic activities
5. Western edge of city was religious, political, and educational center​
6. City had sewer system for collecting trash​
7. First cities to show signs of planned development​
8. rectangular blocks
Source: Texas University

500 CE

Medieval Urbanization

In 800 CE, the Middle-East and North Africa (MENA) were among the most urbanized regions in the world, as there were many cities founded with the expansion of Islam.
Source: The George Washington University

1. In 800 CE, the Middle-East and North Africa (MENA) were among the most urbanized regions in the world, as there were many cities founded with the expansion of Islam.

11th-13th centuries

The Rise of Trade Fairs

Regular trade fairs, such as those in Champagne, France, became crucial for economic exchange, attracting merchants and fostering the growth of nearby towns.
In the 12th and 13th centuries, Champagne became the site of commercial fairs. There were six great fairs in Champagne, each of which lasted 49 days. These fairs, at which northern cloth was exchanged for spices, dyes, and precious objects from Mediterranean lands, made Champagne the commercial and financial center of Europe for a time.
Source: Britannica

1. Mud and stone dwellings.
2. Al Tarif Mosque was the first school in the Saudi state.
3. The state's sources of income were Zakat and spoils.

12th-15th centuries

The Rise of Universities

The founding of universities in cities like Bologna, Paris, and Oxford promoted education and intellectual life, contributing to urban growth.
Source: Britannica

1. The founding of universities in cities like Bologna, Paris, and Oxford promoted education and intellectual life, contributing to urban growth.
   Source: Britannica
2. Livelihood dependence on agriculture and trade.
3. Shifting lifestyles towards stability and housing instead of mobility.

1912 CE

The Urban Migration

The first migration was established at the wells of Artawiyah, where convoys bound for Kuwait stop for water supply and rest.
The rapid success of the Artawiya migration has encouraged the number of migrations to expand largely. Usually, the first landmark to be built is the mosque, followed by houses built around it, and then the expansion begins slowly, and necessary facilities are provided for their daily lives, such as money, grain and agricultural tools to plow the land.
Source: King Saud University

1. The first migration was established at the wells of Artawiyah, where convoys bound for Kuwait stop for water supply and rest.
   The rapid success of the Artawiya migration has encouraged the number of migrations to expand largely. Usually, the first landmark to be built is the mosque, followed by houses built around it, and then the expansion begins slowly, and necessary facilities are provided for their daily lives, such as money, grain and agricultural tools to plow the land.
   Source: King Saud University

1970 CE

Economic Boom

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has developed and launched a series of Development Plans (Five- year Development Plans), which aimed to achieving a high rate of economic growth, by developing economic resources and obtaining the maximum amount of oil revenues during the longest possible period while preserving depletable resources, and reducing the dependence of the Saudi economy on its exports of crude oil by expanding the production base, and developing manpower through education and training.