Drawing on archaeology, literary and epigraphic evidence, professional and technical literature, and descriptions of cities by travellers and geographers, the author traces the developments of town planning, revealing the importance of the city to political, religious, and social life in the Greek and Roman world.

The city for the Greeks and Romans was of paramount importance for their political, religious and social life, and "The City in the Greek and Roman World" provides an engaging study of different concepts and developments of the city at that time. For example, the Greek concept of the "polis" as essentially a community whose physical attributes well-built houses, walls, docks were of secondary importance, gradually shifted: as cities grew, especially under the Hellenistic kings and their Roman successors, fine public buildings, sumptuous houses and impressive civic amenities became the hallmark of urban life.
"The City in the Greek and Roman World" is the first comprehensive study in over a decade to examine the development of the city in the Greek and Roman world.
Drawing on archaeology, literary and epigrapic evidence, professional and technical literature, as well as descriptions of cities and their monuments from travellers and geographers, the author analyzes the evolution of town planning. This includes the provision of services and amenities, orientation, and, as an Aristotelian, his account of the ideal city preferred arrangements which both provided security and were aesthetically pleasing.