Genealogy

This chapter focuses on a topic that has already been discussed and published; nevertheless the need to trace a sort of genealogy is still strategic. In order to demonstrate that, even if the term urban sustainability might be relatively new, the issue is not; the aforementioned publication sought to demonstrate the ability of ancient Roman engineers to plan new settlements by optimizing local climatic conditions. This approach can be easily considered a sort of proto-urban microclimatology. Even if is not the purpose of this book to provide in-depth historic research on Roman urban settlements, this chapter explores the approach of ancient civilizations to urban design in the very early steps of the process from a climate perspective. The Roman approach is not applicable today; nevertheless it highlights the importance of a holistic approach that has been neglected in more current times.