The City of London
* After the Industrial revolution, London’s population increased fourfold.
* The city gradually underwent urbanisation.
* People sought work in the London dockyard, and in other industries.
* The growing population of London caused concern for the police, philanthropists and Industrialists,
* London faced a severe housing shortage and migrant workers began to live in tenements.
* The London Underground was built to ease the housing shortage and help people commute to work.
Social Change and Politics in the City
* People came to the city in search of a better life.
* The city encouraged a spirit of individualism.
* Political movements such as Chartism, the 10 hour movement, women suffrages movements made people aware of their rights.
* Families became smaller and people had more time for leisure.
* State-sponsored libraries, art galleries and museums were set up.
* State authorities tried to keep rebellion in check by enhancing the beauty of urban areas.
The City of Bombay
* Bombay was a group of seven islands.
* It functioned as an important port for trade in cotton and opium.
* Its sugar and textile mills drew migrant workers.
* The construction of two major railway lines connected the city to other parts of the country.
* The influx of people soon created a crisis of housing space and water supply.
* The majority of the working population lived in chawls.
* Life in the city was often authentically captured by the Bombay Film Industry.
* Reclaiming land from the sea was one way in which the authorities tried to solve the space crunch.
Cities and the Challenges of the Environment
* Cities grew and developed at the expense of the environment.
* Urban development led to air, water and noise pollution.
* Businesses were unwilling to invest in technology that improved their machines.
* Calcutta suffered from air pollution due to the fog and industrial and domestic smoke.
* Calcutta became the first Indian city to get smoke nuisance legislation.