Part 7/11:
Approximately 7,000 years ago, the technological and social advances of agriculture fueled the rise of cities. While ancient civilizations like Rome, Athens, or Sparta are often remembered for their grandeur, most people still lived in rural areas, dedicating their lives to farming and land management.
Cities transformed societal organization by accumulating surpluses from the countryside, thus enabling power and wealth concentration. They became hubs of innovation—craftsmanship, arts, music, architecture—and gave rise to specialized professions. Within these urban environments, people forged identities through their trades and communities, laying the foundation for complex social structures.