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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 February 2009
The debate about the ability of Third World cities today and in the future to cope with rapid population growth has taken place with virtually no reference to urban history. This article seeks to remedy that, examining how three of Asia's largest cities during the pre-modern period coped with the problem of major fires. It examines the nature of the problem, its causes and its economic significance. The article concludes by considering the implications of this history for the current debate.
I am grateful to the School of Economics, La Trobe University, for research funding, to Zhou Linong for research assistance, and to Dennis Flynn and Eric Jones for comments and advice.
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