ABSTRACT
THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHAPTER is to consider the evolution of communities. Man has been a long time learning to build villages, then towns, and now great cities. He lived in houses for many generations before he learned that fire can be used safely to heat room space, that chimneys can be used to take the smoke away, that glass can be used to let in the light. Learning to live collectively has been a slow process, particularly in ancient times, but it goes forward much faster today. It goes faster in urban than in rural places, but whatever the type of community, innovations are received with caution. This caution is understandable, whether the innovations relate to institutions or tools, group organization or beliefs, food or clothing or houses. Community evolution involves many kinds of change, learning in different areas. So much of this evolution is outside the embrace of history that the term "natural history" seems more applicable. 1
