Moses Finley once noted ‘‘It will not have escaped notice that I have so far avoided defining what I mean by a city”. Answer, for 10 points each, questions on difficult-to-define early cities.
[10m] Early urbanism in West Africa has been argued to have been self-generated and unfortified rather than state-motivated, exemplified by the Inland Niger Delta sites of Dia and Djenné-djeno in this modern-day country.
ANSWER: Mali [accept Republic of Mali or République du Mali]
[10h] Walls are often considered a defining feature for early Chinese cities, but are notably lacking from this dynasty’s capital of Yīn (“EEN”), where this dynasty’s jiǎgǔ (“J’YAH-goo”) writing was first discovered.
ANSWER: Shang dynasty [or Shāng Cháo]
[10e] Excavations at Tell Brak in Syria suggest that theories that urbanism spread from the southern part of this region need to be modified. Uruk is traditionally considered the oldest city of this historical region.
ANSWER: Mesopotamia [prompt on Fertile Crescent]