Syllabus
1) What is a city; what makes city a city; what distinguishes city from other settlements or urban units; how is city tied with architecture; short excursus into the origins of city (city planned and spontaneous etc.); what is urbanism and urban planning.
2) Very concise history of city with short overview of architectural styles
3) Renaissance and baroque city
4) Prague - baroque city (Church, Palace, Fortification)
5) Excursion: Prague - baroque city (from Old town over Charles bridge to Lesser town and finally to Castle District)
6) 19th century, industrial city, urbanisation
7) Prague - long 19th century (Theatre, Museum, School, mass housing)
8) Excursion: Prague - 19th century (from National Theatre, Academy of Sciences through National Avenue to Wenceslas Square and National Museum and to the Vinohrady district)
9) City in 20th century 1st part
10) City in 20th century 2nd part
11) Prague in 20th century
12) Excursion: Prague in 20th century (to be specified)
Annotation
This is an introductory course into the topics of city. The course will first focus on what makes city a city and distinguish it from other kind of settlements. Than the course goes shortly through origins and history of cities – following always a particular author, book or attitude.
Most lessons will be dedicated to particular chapters of urban history (baroque age, industrial 19th century, or 20th century) – we will follow general as well as local history: the story of western cities will be accompanied by the case of Prague – and always with an excursion in Prague where students would see particular examples in reality.
Please note: the final term to accept essay to earn your credits is 15th of January 2018. No latter essays will be accepted.