| How do you define a city? Unfortunately, there is no | | | | example a major city like Los Angeles, which has |
| agreement on what a common definition should be. | | | | complex boundaries. It has a continuous built-up |
| Nevertheless, you can call a city a conglomerate of a | | | | settlement covering area from the northern tip of |
| large and permanent settlement. Cities usually have | | | | Mexico and along the southern coast of California. |
| an important status based on administrative and legal | | | | Even coming to an educated guess of the population |
| issues. In addition, all major cities throughout the | | | | of Los Angeles is no mean task. |
| world have significant historical backgrounds. | | | | Classifying Major Cities |
| Nowadays, a big city is also called a metropolis. A | | | | Today, there are many cities the world over with |
| metropolis is classified as having a population of more | | | | large populations. All do not have significant impact on |
| than half a million. However, one cannot fix this | | | | the affairs of the world. Considering this aspect some |
| number as sacrosanct as the world population is on | | | | economists and sociologists have affixed certain |
| rise and more and more people throng to urban | | | | criteria for classifying metropolises as 'world cities'. |
| areas for their livelihood. | | | | You may even call them global cities. The major |
| In the past, metropolis was referred to a city of | | | | criteria are: |
| origin of a colony or settlement. Metropolises in | | | | * Economic characteristics. Global cities have |
| ancient times were the hub of cultural activities, | | | | distinctive edge over others with regard to having |
| commerce, and art. Alexandria, Babylon, Banaras, | | | | headquarters of multinationals located, stock market |
| Jerusalem, Rome and Mohenjo-Daro are well known | | | | indices and market capitalization, and significant |
| examples of major cities of ancient times. | | | | financial capacity. |
| Global city is another popular terminology in use | | | | * Political uniqueness. Global cities stand out by having |
| today. The term global city was first coined by | | | | hosted major international summits on economic and |
| Saskia Sassen, an American sociologist, who referred | | | | political affairs and other international events like |
| this word to Tokyo, London and New York for the | | | | Olympiads and other global sports events. Major cities |
| global impact these major cities have on the world | | | | coming under this category also have a high quality |
| economy. | | | | of life and also many expatriate communities. |
| Estimating A City's Population | | | | * Infrastructural distinctiveness. Global cities have |
| Right through the ages estimating a city's population | | | | excellent rapid mass transport systems, advanced |
| has been a very tough task indeed. Historians, | | | | communications infrastructure, and international |
| archeologists, economists, and sociologists have | | | | airports having connections to all major airports in the |
| attempted many means to figure out the population | | | | world. |
| of major cities throughout the world. Yet, the | | | | Major metropolises play a prominent role in creating a |
| accuracy always remained questionable and | | | | brand name for the resident country. Moreover, the |
| controversial. The reasons are not too difficult to | | | | image and the economic environment of major cities |
| guess. How does one come to grips with the actual | | | | play a significant role in capital inflows into the |
| area devoted to housing, and most of all can anyone | | | | countries for economic development. |
| define the real jurisdictional limits of a city? Take for | | | | |