Jerusalem
1)The City of Jerusalem is the capitol of Israel. Jerusalem, the City of David has been called the religious capitol of the world. Jerusalem, has many significant sites that come of out of Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
2)Jerusalem was founded on top of a plateau in the Judean Mountains. The city is now surrounded by valleys and dried up river beds. At one time, the city was surrounded by large forests, which have since disappeared. The biggest reason I feel that Jerusalem was established where it was because of the raised elevation of the plateau. This allowed the people of the city to see what was coming from long distances. Another thing that may have led to the particular spot of Jerusalem was the rivers that ran near the city. Today there is nothing more than dried up river beds, but thousands of years ago there may have been several rivers that flowed near the city. This is an important thing for any ancient city because it provided a means of transportation in and out of the city.
3) Old City. Map. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Web. 31 Mar. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/60382/Old-City-of-Jerusalem >
City layout/boundaries:
> Jerusalem boundaries, extended by Israel in June 1967 and again in 1993;from Jerusalem Airport (North) to nearly West Bank town of Bethlehem (South); from the ridge of Mount Scopus and the Mount of Olives (East) to Mount Herzl, ʿEn Kerem, and the Hadassah Medical Centre of the Hebrew University (West).
>The Old Cityforms a walled quadrilateral about 3,000 feet (900 metres) long on each side.
Land uses:
> 2.2% used for industry and infrastructure
> Har Hotzvim industrial park is home to major corporations (Intel, Teval Pharmaceutical Industries, Ophir Optronics, ECI Telecom)
> Transportation routes (Egged buses, taxicabs, and private cars, rail-based transit system)
> Because of the limited water supply, the land is a site for aqueducts, tunnels, cisterns, and pools within the city
> Site for mosques, universities, archaeological sites, neighborhoods, synagogues, churches, and mountains
4) There were many components that influence the culture of of Jerusalem. As mention before there were rivers in the ancient Jerusalem that could have possibly influence the life style of the people of Jerusalem. Also much of the culture of the architecture of Jerusalem was influence by religion for example David built a Temple to “associate his royal line” with God. Much of Davids ruling was influence by his believe that God has an influence on way of living. Under kind Solemon there was a great Temple called Beit ha-Midkash.
Agriculture also influence the life of the people of Jerusalem.According to several sources the majority of people were part of agriculture. Furthermore, the crops that were being produced influence the food culture of Jerusalem. For example lentils became part of the daily diet of the people of Jerusalem.
5)In 1003 BCE, King David established Jerusalem as capital of United Kingdom of Israel. The city indeed flourished due to the prominent religion in the city, Judaism. The construction of the first Temple was initiated by King Solomon. Religious tensions and clashing ideas of other rulers led to unstable fluctuations in the city. The destruction of the first Temple was a key event that would determine the future of one specific group, the Jews. There was constant damage to the infrastructure of the city due to the instability of ruling; there was continues fall and raises of regimes. Although the city was captured and recovered numerous times it too also suffered division of territory and of its people. As a sign of recovery, a second Temple was constructed but would fall as Jerusalem fell to the knees of Titus. As a result of significant events, the city was reconstructed constantly to fit the needs of the members of an unstable Jerusalem and future capital of Israel.
Amsterdam
1)Amsterdam is the capitol of the Netherlands. The city is one of the most important ports for the Netherlands. Amsterdam is sits in Western Europe. The city borders Belgium and Germany. To the city`s north and west is the North Sea.
2)The abundance of water around Amsterdam was a highly attractive point for the siting of the city. Fishermen who lived along the banks of the Amstel River built a bridge across it. There were wooden doors on this bridge that served as a dam to keep the city from flooding. Most of the land lies below sea-level, making the ground soft and marsh-like. The mouth of the Amstel River formed a natural harbor which would be important for trade purposes. The canals were added in the Middle Ages for defence purposes and to help manage the water. The city began to expand and Amsterdam found many of the canals falling inside the city, which now allowed them to use them for transportation purposes. In conclusion, the city of Amsterdam’s largest appeal to settlers was the surrounding waters and the natural harbor that the river created. This created the chance for Amsterdam to benefit economically from trade.
3) City layout/boundaries:
> Central Station is the main train depot around which the entirety of the city is arranged in concentric semicircles of canals
> Smaller canals and streets connect to the main ones, extending from the Old city
> Singelgracht canal acts as a boundary surrounding the Old City (The Center)
> Canal Belt: semicircle collection of waterways constructed around the Old City
> Jordaan: grouping of small streets and canals west of the Old City
Land uses:
> Museumplein Area: home to the city’s major museums (Van Gogh, Stedelijk, Rijksmuseum) and Vondelpark
> Formed as a fishing village (13th c.)
> Site of trade; canals and ports (14th-15th c.)
> Landscape prospered with fields of tulips
> Site of prolific urban growth during the Golden Age; modern diamond industry dates back to the Golden Age
> Site of tourism: Famed Red Light District, bridges, houses, canals, history and art.
4) Much of the culture in Amsterdam in influence by entertainment purposes.Many of the cultural practices in Amsterdam are influence by the Dutch culture. Part of the Dutch culture includes the influence of music and theater. An example of culture influencing the city is when the city turns orange to celebrate the Queen’s birthday. More than just wearing and decorating the place with anything orange that people incorporate music into the celebration. Here on could see how the city culture influences the people and how the people of the city influence the culture. Amsterdam’s transportation is like many metropolitan cities.
5) One of the most important things that allowed Amsterdam to grow was the waters that surrounded it. Creating a harbor allowed for travelers, by sea, to reach this growing city. This attracted numerous people to want to settle in the city for couple of reasons. One reason was economic reasons; it was known as renounced fishing village in the 12th century. Since more people were migrating to Amsterdam, canals were constructed, which meant more trade and faster ways to travel through the growing city. Another reason was due to historical events, such as the second world war, which forced people to migrate to Netherlands as it built affordable homes. This city did not decline, rather it expanded over time. What started as an attempt to build a bridge in 1275 has now become the cultural and financial capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam.
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