Contrary to popular belief, myth, and contemporary political rhetoric, cities and urban forms have been central to American life and experience. From the colonial period to the present day, cities have occupied a significant place in the forward thrust of the American empire; in economic, social and cultural development; and in the American imagination. While many of the great urban concentrations created in the 19th century have lost their industry, their tax base, and in some cases their population, new and quite different cities, suburbs, and exurbs have emerged. This course will examine historically those forces which have given shape to American cities and urban consciousness; we will consider how ideas about the city (and the countryside) changed as Americans confronted the industrial, the post-industrial, and, more recently, the global city. (X-List with Urban Studies)