ASU archaeologist explores climate change and ancient cities for Slate
An elite residential compound at Teotihuacan called the Palace of the Sun, with the Pyramid of the Sun in the background. This compound, like most of the buildings at Teotihuacan, was burned and abandoned around A.D. 600. Photo by Michael E. Smith
Arizona State University researchers believe ancient cities can teach us important lessons about climate change and survival.
Why have some ancient cities lasted for one century or two and others for many millennia? These are questions that ASU archaeologists, urban sustainability scientists and other researchers are working to answer. Professor Michael E. Smith with the School of Human Evolution and Social Change recently published an article in Slate Magazine discussing how some ancient cities survived stresses and climate change and some did not.
“Any city that lasts hundreds of years has overcome resource problems, weathered shocks and stresses, and solved the collective-action problems of people living and working together,” Smith wrote in Slate. “In short, long-lived cities must have been well adapted to their social and natural settings — and we need to study them to see if we can determine what factors contributed to long-term urban success in the ancient world, and what challenges led to short-term failures.”
Other ASU faculty involved in the research are Professor Abigail York and Associate Professor Matthew Peeples with the School of Human Evolution and Social Change and Clinical Associate Professor José Lobo with the School of Sustainability.
Article source: Slate MagazineMore ASU in the news
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