Due to instructor illness, there will be no class on Tuesday, April 9. We will resume in the regular classroom on Friday.

The midterm will be held during class time on Tuesday 3/19.

The test consists of a set of multiple choice questions (1/3 of grade) and a choice of short answer questions (2/3 of grade).

You may bring two index cards measuring no more than 3″ x 5″ each to consult during the test. Write your name on each card. Notes may be written on both sides. Other materials will not be acceptable. If you can find a way to print on the cards that is ok, but for most people handwriting will probably be easier.

The cards can only be consulted during the short-answer part of the test. Do not expect to be able to use them on the multiple choice questions.

The multiple choice questions will draw on factual information from the readings and viewings about the major civilizations and theories of urban life that we have discussed, watched, and read about. You will not be tested directly on the names of textbook authors, or exact dates, but some are likely to appear in the questions.

The short-answer questions will each touch on one or more of the following themes. You should plan on focusing on the historical cities we have studied in your responses, which should each be two paragraphs in length.

• Symbolism of and importance of monumental buildings in different civilizations, including state, sacred, and other types of buildings.
• Revolutions: Neolithic, urban, and industrial–describe, compare, contrast.
• “The sacred and the profane”: Roles of religion and commerce in different cities and civilizations; intersections of religion and commerce
• Political economy: Who has power and who rules in different types of social and economic systems in the cities and civilizations we have studied; approaches to studying social hierarchies
• Compare and contrast the approach to urban life of the flaneur and flaneuse. Theorize the experiences of a flaneur or flaneuse in different cities and civilizations.

I suggest reviewing the reading response prompts on the class forum along with your notes on the readings and my lecture slides.

Below, please find PDFs with many lecture slides as well as many of the questions and polls that were asked during class.

Good luck!

We’ll meet on the front steps at Central Synagogue, 662 Lexington Avenue (corner of 55th street). It’s about a 15-20 minute walk from Hunter or you can take the 6 train to either 59th or 51st streets. The tour will begin promptly at 2:20 p.m. Please dress for the weather and be prepared with your talk (1-2 minutes each student).

Google Maps link to starting point location: https://goo.gl/maps/cBM8TS4h94m

I will provide a handout on at the beginning of the tour with instructions on how to write your tour response due Friday, March 1 (this is a change from the syllabus, which originally specified it would be due sooner).