It is not hard to notice the role of city planning in forming the spirit of the city and the people within it. This book, therefore, aims to introduce an overview of the origin, growth and development of cities throughout the history and highlight the role that city planning had played in the formation of human civilization. It examines the various socioeconomic, historic, political and environmental forces that help explain city form and presents some prominent examples of sites and cities from ancient times to the present. It also tries to answer some questions concerning the social contribution of city planning, the effect that it has on people's behavior and the relationship that it had with 'civilizing' the community and shaping its character. The book is particularly useful for those, who are interested in the history of city planning and students, who are studying architectural history or planning history.