Urbanization has been an essential part of most nations’ development toward a stronger and more stable economy. The countries in the South that urbanized most rapidly in the last 10–20 years are generally those with the most rapid economic growth. Most of the world’s largest cities are in the world’s largest economies, which is further evidence of this link between economic wealth and cities. Cities and towns also have important roles in social transformation. They are centers of artistic, scientific, and technological innovations, of culture, and education. The history of cities and towns is inexorably linked to that of civilization in general (the Habitat Agenda).