Part 2/8:
By the 18th century, Amsterdam's dominance began to wane as London emerged as its formidable rival. Despite enduring horrific events such as the Great Fire, London reinvented itself, ultimately becoming the largest city in the world and defining the concept of the megalopolis. As the railways cut through impoverished neighborhoods, those living in the lower socio-economic strata were often displaced, illustrating the growing divide between wealth and poverty.