Centers of Progress: 40 Cities That Changed the World

by Chelsea Follett

"In this superb book, Chelsea Follett takes the reader on a time-travel cruise through the great flash points of human activity to catch innovations that have transformed human lives." ―From the foreword by bestselling author Matt Ridley (The Rational Optimist and The Evolution of Everything) Where does progress happen? The story of civilization is the story of the city. It is cities that have created and defined the modern world by acting as the sites of pivotal advances in culture, politics, science, technology, and more. There is no question that certain places, at certain times in history, have contributed disproportionately toward making the world a better place. This book tells the story of 40 of those places. In Centers of 40 Cities That Changed the World , Chelsea Follett examines a diverse group of cities, ranging from ancient Athens to Song-era Hangzhou. But some common themes stand most cities reach their creative peak during periods of peace; most centers of progress also thrive during times of social, intellectual, and economic freedom, as well as openness to intercultural exchange and trade; and centers of progress tend to be highly populated. Because, in every city, it is ultimately the people who live there who drive progress forward―if given the freedom to do so. Identifying common factors―such as relative peace, freedom, and multitudes―among the places that have produced history's greatest achievements is one way to learn what causes progress. Change is a constant, but progress is not. Understanding what makes a place fertile ground for progress may help to sow the seeds of future innovations. Moreover, their story is our story. City air provides the wind in the sails of the modern world. Come journey through these pages to some of history's greatest centers of progress.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Urban Planning

260 pages, Paperback

Published September 19, 2023

Reviews

[Ronald J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though the history of cities contains disease (a pandemic killed one-half of Florence’s population in the 14th century, and 60% of Europe), violence, crime, and poverty, they are also crucibles of invention. They are wonderful venues for what Matt Ridley calls “ideas having sex” (Ridley wrote the Foreword). The common themes of progress in cities is: Relative peace, freedom, and multitudes of people. War is not necessarily good for invention and progress because it disconnects people and ideas, and also kills human capital. Though Charles Murray in Human Accomplishment point out, “Streams of human accomplishment have not typically been disrupted by war and civil unrest. Peace can’t explain the trajectory of human accomplishment—there hasn’t been enough peace of a good test. Not that war is good for human accomplishment, just that it hasn’t impeded it.” As Rabbi Lapin: Cities have outlasted government, even though some of these 40 cities no longer exist. The author points out that slavery existed in many of these cities, as it was a universal institution. As Edward Gibbon writes in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire:

The estimated number of slaves outnumbered the free inhabitants of the Roman world. There was a proposal for slaves to wear a distinctive garment that was rejected because of the potential danger of acquainting the slaves with their own numbers.

The fourth city profiled is Uruk, the world’s first large city and birthplace of writing, circa 3300 BCE (Before the Christian Era):

“writing was not invented by a king, but by the city’s accountants, arose gradually over many generations…[for a] glamorous reason: bookkeeping. Writings that survive: inventory lists, shopping lists, wage records, lists allocating rations for temple workers, and shopping receipts. The people of Uruk wrote with reeds and clay.”

The fifth city, Mohenjo Daro was a leader in sanitation. The city is located in today’s Pakistan, dates from 2500 BCE, and inhabited since 3500. Almost all city houses had indoor baths, and latrines with drains (even kids bath toys). It was the Ancient world’s best plumbing, even surpassing what the Roman’s would later create. Plumbers are the unsung heroes civilization. The last city profiled, San Francisco, brought us the Digital Revolution, but it’s golden age has past. As the author writes, “Change is a constant, but progress is not.” This is a fascinating historical tour of human progress of flourishing that emerged from these 40 centers of progress. A very interesting read.
We were honored to be able to interview the author, Chelsea Follett, on The Soul of Enterprise. You can listen to the entire show here:

https://www.thesoulofenterprise.com/t...

[James Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Centers of Progress: 40 Cities That Changed the World" by Chelsea Follett is an enlightening journey through time and space, offering readers a captivating exploration of the pivotal role that cities have played in shaping the course of human history. Follett's narrative is not just a book; it's a dynamic odyssey through the annals of civilization.

Follett's writing style is engaging and accessible, making complex historical concepts and ideas approachable for readers of all backgrounds. She masterfully weaves together the stories of 40 diverse cities, from the ancient grandeur of Athens to the intellectual vibrancy of Song-era Hangzhou. With each city, a new chapter unfolds, revealing the unique cultural, political, and technological contributions they made to our world.

What truly sets this book apart is its ability to distill common threads from these disparate urban centers. The reader comes to understand that progress is not a random phenomenon but is influenced by factors like peace, freedom, intellectual curiosity, and openness to different cultures. Follett brilliantly highlights how the creative genius of humanity flourishes when given the freedom to innovate and exchange ideas.

Furthermore, "Centers of Progress" is not just a recounting of history; it's a reflection of our shared human journey. Follett reminds us that the progress made in these cities is the story of us all. As readers, we are transported to these cities and get to witness the winds of change that have propelled the modern world forward.

In a world where it's easy to get lost in the chaos of the present, this book is a beacon of enlightenment. It encourages us to look back, to learn from the past, and to appreciate the contributions of these remarkable cities. "Centers of Progress" invites us to imagine what the future holds and how we can collectively sow the seeds of innovation and advancement.

In conclusion, Chelsea Follett's "Centers of Progress" is a must-read for anyone curious about the intersections of history, culture, and progress. It's a lively and thought-provoking journey that will leave you with a deeper appreciation for the cities that have shaped our world. This book not only informs but inspires, reminding us that the human spirit has the power to create, evolve, and transform, and that the city is the canvas upon which these remarkable stories unfold.

[Franz Schrepf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard the idea a couple times: throughout history, the smartest and most ambitious people tended to gather in specific cities during each period and did incredible work.

Florence, Venice, Paris, London, New York, San Francisco.

This book added 34 other cities to this list and highlighted factors that weren’t even on my radar.

Dubrovnik seems to have been a Proto-United States, with its flag simply spelling “Liberty”.

While London abolished slavery in 1806, Saudi Arabia hasn’t made it illegal until 1967?!

“The future is already here, it’s just not evenly distributed.”

My only issue with the book is that some cities, eg Budj Bim, were so remote that they could have never actually contributed to humanity’s progress overall. They felt more like diversity chapters to make every content feel seen, rather than depicting a through line of technological breakthroughs.

At the same time, the book did shed a light on the fact that eg the library of Alexandria housed Buddhist scriptures.

Humanity has been far more connected in the past than most people realize.

[Alan Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a different type of history book than I've read before. The 40 cities that are the subjects of the book had their peaks anywhere from thousands of years ago to just recently. Each one contributed to the progress of the human race in significant ways. One of the takeaways is that cities--large population centers--have been very important to our development. Sparsely settled areas have not contributed much. The people who lived in these cities had the freedom to innovate, and they worked together to improve our standard of living. Interestingly, another takeaway is that every city mentioned has had a peak period of improving our lives and then has noticeably declined.

[Patricia Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book about the progress that has been made over the years in different world locations. interesting to see who started social healthfair, who had the greatest art, what the printed word did, and how communication helps everyone. she makes an interesting point in that San Francisco had had its time in the sun. so much homelessness there that the silicon business has not helped. enjoyed the quick read chapters.

[Jeanne Cassell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting travel thru time and space to centers of progress, not just change. Amazing archilogical discoveries of ancient cities we now know existed and flourished…much different than the Eurocentric study of history I had in college. Written for use in high school classes, the writing is not smooth and quotes from other sources not well handled, but the information is fascinating. A good read for a book group for discussion of our travels etc.

[Garland Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read.

A great read for the positive hope of humankind.
Humans strive for liberty, freedom, and free
speech. That hope is built into our very being
at birth. This book hammers home the very
nature of our birthright.
Garland Johnson

[Max Patiiuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+
The last few chapters are the most interesting. I would have loved the book to focus on those deeper, as well as explain at least a bit why cities go into and out of spotlight all the time.