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08/31/2007: "Mesopotamian cities grew without monarch's influence"

Contrary to the assumption that ancient cities always grew outwards from a central point, the urban site of Tell Brak in north-eastern Syria appears to have emerged as several nearby settlements melded together, according to researchers' analysis of archaeological evidence.

Experts say that the findings lend support to the theory that early Mesopotamian cities developed as a result of grassroots organisation, rather than a mandate from a central authority.

Ur believes his new findings contradict the impression given by early written texts that the earliest cities typically emerged under the strict control of kings who liked to keep their people as close as possible.

[ Notice these cities died out after growing too big. The answer that they were originally under the control of intelligent monarchs, then had a liberal revolution, grew big and mediocre and then collapsed into third-world status. Good thinking. ]

http://technology.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn12562&feedId=gaymidgetfecalporn