Why were Cities, States,.... ever?

[Schifference]

Why were cities formed?

I would imagine that way back in the day the property owners and workers thought that a city was beneficial. What about states? Why were states formed? Did those entities at one point in time serve the people?

Today do cities serve the people or do people serve the city?

If you have a problem on your property does the city want to help you or give you a citation?

[phill4paul]

Cities came about because of beer. States came about by cities banding together to keep others from stealing their beer.

[oyarde]

States were formed to finalize the power of theft . Cities are where the godless gather to pay higher taxes to be closer to vices .

[CaptUSA]

Trade.

Cities were formed because they were places to trade things. You'll notice most cities were formed at ports or rail junctions. Someplace to easily transport what you have for what you want. And... any time there are groups of people gathered doing trades with each other, there will be always "brokers" to help "regulate" the trade. Then, they ask for taxes to help "regulate" the trades and to build infrastructure. Thus, cities. States are an extension of cities in that the city "managers" and war mongers wanted to expand their own brand of control over the trades.

[phill4paul]

Trade.

Cities were formed because they were places to trade things. You'll notice most cities were formed at ports or rail junctions. Someplace to easily transport what you have for what you want. And... any time there are groups of people gathered doing trades with each other, there will be always "brokers" to help "regulate" the trade. Then, they ask for taxes to help "regulate" the trades and to build infrastructure. Thus, cities. States are an extension of cities in that the city "managers" and war mongers wanted to expand their own brand of control over the trades.

Naw. Beer. Trading has always been done. Usually at a specific time and a specific gathering place with the individuals returning to their tiny villages or independent life. Then grains were cultivated and grown as opposed to being naturally harvested. Through divine inspiration or happenstance grain created an elixar called "beer." To do this in quantity rich soil was needed which is found close to rivers. Thus cities were formed. Mesopotamia was a created because of...beer.

[TheTexan]

First there were villages. Then they asked for roads, but how? Then there was government, to build the roads.

Which then became a city.

[Swordsmyth]

Cities and states were formed to dispense justice and defend against enemies, the cities came first but as the enemies became larger by conquering more territory and creating states the remaining cities had to band together in states in order to be able to defend against them.