TRANSPORT AND URBAN-GROWTH IN PREINDUSTRIAL EUROPE - IMPLICATIONS FORARCHAEOLOGY

Archaeologists, geographers, and economists recognize a vital linkage between transport conditions and urban development Archaeologists attr ibute aspects of the Mesoamerican urban tradition to the limiting effe cts of inefficient transport. The relationship between transport and p opulation growth is evaluated here. A large sample of preindustrial Eu ropean cities with known populations is categorized according to the n avigability of their waterways, and their growth is monitored over thr ee centuries. Median population sizes were consistently lower among la ndlocked cities than among seaports and cities on rivers. Effects of p opulation stasis was more pronounced among landlocked cities. Capital cities appeared able to stretch population limits in each category, bu t not to elude them. The applicability of the model to prehistoric urb an development is discussed as are potential problems that would be en countered.