New York -- before the City | Eric Sanderson

www.ted.com 400 years after Hudson found New York harbor, Eric Sanderson shares how he made a 3D map of Mannahatta's fascinating pre-city ecology of hills, rivers, wildlife -- accurate down to the block -- when Times Square was a wetland and you couldn't get delivery.
TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at www.ted.com/translate. Watch a highlight reel of the Top 10 TEDTalks at www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

[@luismeza9922]

I wish I had a time machine, to be able to go back in the past and see how cities were before they were massive...

[@chops6416]

I'd go back even further and spend a day as the only human on earth. The biodiversity would be mind boggling. Not one piece of litter, every natural rescource untouched, truely the most beautiful planet in existence.

[@QueenBee-gx4rp]

Mick Hill And very large animals that think you look like a tasty morsel......

[@bcad2438]

So many frogs. They keep you up at night. How is that swamp and pond across the street now City Hall? But that's Manhattan for you, if you wanted less wildlife you would've stayed in Amsterdam.

[@RC.41]

They were all trees lol

[@davearonow65]

@@chops6416 right, because you've seen so many other planets to be able to make that determination.

[@noahbaxter4576]

1:16 Bro really pulled out the minecraft paintings

[@DaysiPerez-rw9xc]

Oh I thought it was just me ... haha so true though

[@innovatecoin9990]

It got censored if you see the time stamp it looks different then, so strange

[@EdouardPicard0224]

He pulled a compressed jpg from his floppy disk

[@diogodavid3557]

@@innovatecoin9990 look at the sky in the time stamp. It's still pixelated images, you jsut can't notice that very well because of the size and compression

[@blankblank5409]

0:40

[@Rickyrab]

If NYC weren't a city it could've been the site of a great national Park.

[@hanoitripper1809]

It can be reverted

[@rubina1868]

Richard Rabinowitz yeah instead we have two gigantic airports on migratory paths

[@rubina1868]

Hanoi Tripper how???

[@tracydrennan3296]

Hanoi Tripper Because I love agenda 21 and human bondage .

[@miscsb]

@@hanoitripper1809 lmao don't worry that's covered by north korea

[@bluedancelilly]

Would be interesting to post some signs around NYC showing pictures of what the area looked like 500 years ago. A few select.locations and intersections around the city. People would find it very interesting. Could generate some buzz and help promote more environmental consciousness (ie. recycling) which is lacking in the city.

[@sajithamk1065]

That's great

[@spanishstudiolanguagecente4751]

pictures from 500 years ago?

[@sabatino1977]

@@spanishstudiolanguagecente4751 - no, pictures of what the area looked like is not the same as a photo from 500 years ago.

[@ant697]

Great idea 👍

[@peekaboo3968]

They do this If u look everywhere is a landmark

[@davidbarfield3489]

The Dutch claimed it was the best natural harbor they've ever seen.

[@garyp3472]

Texas Guy that sure beats the internet. Count me in if you wanna jump in a hot tub and see what happens. And don’t go getting any funny ideas, I do not believe in time travel.

[@garyp3472]

And the Dutch say that about every natural harbour. For 150 years every Dutch captains log book was half filled with joyous exclamations upon each new and weirdly, each already known natural harbour. Most every Dutch sailor learned to write or paid a shipmate so he could bore to teens loved ones with excited news of the latest natural harbour they came upon. In Dutch homes it would take well into the 19th century before people stopped letting mail pile to overflowing in the mailbox until the day before their loved one was due back when they would spend a mad 24 hours reading them all. People always ask, in times of such slow communication and unreliable schedules to say the least, how could anyone know within 24 hours when their loved ones came back. Truth is after hundreds of letters with no money but multiple pages on natural harbour they didn’t much care.

[@the4thindustrialrevolution225]

@@garyp3472 what the fack are you talking about

[@joeyzwier]

@@the4thindustrialrevolution225 Drugs

[@madyjules]

Amerigo Vespucci said the same and he predated the arrival of the Dutch by several decades. Vespucci also admired the beauty and fertility of the land and wrote respectfully of the Lenape people living there. How different Vespucci was from the horrible and cruel Columbus. I am Italian -> ever since I read a well-researched and thorough biography of Columbus I have been horrified and deeply ashamed that he is so honored in America. 😞He does not deserve any honor! He was a buffoon; thought he reached India!!

[@yllenhoj]

Growing up in the 60s and 70s in southeastern Queens, my friends and I played often in the salt marshes near JFK airport. For miles , nothing but swamp and tidal creeks. We explored much of it on foot and by canoe. And the Manhattan skyline was just a few miles away.

[@marb3909]

Whenever I walk around the city, it’s always a trip to think that centuries ago it looked nothing like this and that everything I see had to be built over the years. Especially walking around lower Manhattan because I know the street pattern is basically as old as the city itself so these streets have basically seen the entire growth of the city from when it was a village with dirt trails to how it is now

[@YouCanCallMeReTro]

Its funny you say that because I do the same when I visit the city (in this case boston), but I feel like those who live in the city don't really think of it because for them everything there is just part of their day-to-day commutes or whatever else. You kind of have to take a step back to appreciate it.

[@nickbanks1034]

I've always been in awe of the idea of what the US looked like before European settlers. How otherworldly it must have felt. For example in the state of Indiana...the climate used to be similar to Canada. The entire state was covered by a glacier for thousands of years which then melted away into a huge forest expanding the entire midwest full of evergreens and deciduous trees. Moose, wolves, bears, elk, deer, mountain lions, etc etc used to roam freely and in abundance. Trees 400-500 years old were commonplace. It was almost completely wiped out of trees by the 1800's. The wildlife was driven out and had to be slowly introduced back. Its a sad reality

[@shinkibigami9]

Yup the whole thing was like east of Bloomington, Indiana trees, rolling hills and water

[@LB-uo7xy]

Didn't YOUR PEOPLE do that?

[@jordank5957]

Sometimes I wish I could have a time machine to go back and see these type of things

[@matthewmann8969]

Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, And Statan Island are all amazing in there own ways

[@218maryland]

This is one of the most interesting videos i have ever watched on youtube

[@benparker384]

you should check out the elevator video from One World Trade. seeing it in person is awesome but its also on youtube

[@218maryland]

@@benparker384 I will check this out!

[@Adam-rm5cm]

totally

[@eagander]

@@benparker384 YES!! Was there last fall. Fascinating ride up to the top (or down).

[@MiranUT]

Let me help you imagine: I work in Tokyo. I ride my bicycle (or jump on a bus if it's raining) to the train station. I park my bike in an efficient, city-sponsored underground garage right next to the station. It costs 100 yen (90 cents) a day and is free on Sundays and holidays. On my days off, it's not unusually for me to ride my bicycle 30 or 40 minutes to my desired destination. A favorite route is along a river bike path. I've never owned a car. It's possible - and fun.

[@zacotb]

I just chill at the grassy hills in yoyogi park.

[@Juleye]

I live in Sacramento, California. For the past year and a half, I've ridden to college which is about a 20 minute ride on a bicycle. For me the problem though is that often here in Sacramento it reaches 100 degrees fahrenheit and is even more often up in the 90s for a good half of the year which makes riding a bicycle not only uncomfortable but actually unhealthy. I would love to ride my bike year round but for 5 or 6 months it's just too hot.

[@appimoefi4519]

Belgium

[@xSpArTaNGoDzx]

DEATH GRIIIIPS

[@jeeveey]

Crime in America is much more prevalent then in Tokyo though

[@mmedefarge]

There already exists a map of the natural topography of all Manhattan called the Viele map of 1865. It also included all the changes to the land made since Europeans first set foot on Manhattan island. It is still used by builders today. Also, lower Manhattan was primarily used as a summer hunting ground for the Leni Lenape. There permanent settlement was up in Inwood, where there are many protective caves.

[@eagander]

Thanks for the resource.

[@suef.5322]

Excellent and awe inspiring!! Thank you Eric Sanderson.

[@bennyboiart7781]

For everyone saying, “NYC sucks, cities suck, humans suck,” just keep in mind that without the creation of permanent settlements we wouldn’t have the modern conveniences that we enjoy, such as indoor heating/cooling, plumbing and electricity. Just saying.🤷🏻‍♂️

[@tickingtimebomb4139]

True

[@chops6416]

No doubt about it, the current crop of humans suck

[@kenmcnutt2]

Permanent settlements resulted from agriculture. Before then, a hunting-gathering society shared their resources in order to survive. Agriculture allowed division of labor which resulted in the first unequal division of resources. Now we have 500 billionaires and 500,000 homeless people, but the life of the average person is more "convenient". I'm hoping we figure out a way to evolve society to something that's a little more logical.

[@chops6416]

@@kenmcnutt2 keep the population no more than 1 billion. Sorted

[@kenmcnutt2]

@@chops6416 That's one solution, just not the one I had in mind. How would you decide which billion to save?

[@jiyounglee2571]

Eric Anderson talked about pictures New York's natural history. I was interested in New York , so I was impressed to listen to this lecture. He said “we need a future that has the same diversity and abundance and dynamism of Manhattan.” Someday, I eager to visit New York!

[@geepadoodle3573]

Did you visit yet?

[@kr63]

What a beautiful place. NY is just as diverse today with people.

[@brento2890]

I agree. We need to grow while still allowing the natural earth to exist.

[@bennyboiart7781]

Brent Ten FIRST comment I’ve found with an opinion other than, “We should destroy NYC,” or, “Eh, nature’s dumb anyway.” Btw, I wholeheartedly agree with you.

[@randomuploadsism]

We don't need to grow though.

[@SuAva]

Amazing. Much respect to all of the people working on these kinds of projects.

[@arcturussirius7139]

Bikes run on fat and save you money. Cars run on money and make you fat.

[@wolfpak8228]

Arcturus Sirius - so you walk and I'll drive, fat and happy

[@RedbadvanRijn-ft3vv]

@@wolfpak8228 As a real car guy.i take the bike to the center of a city. I wil see you turning rounds in the center,to find a parking place. While i am ready,and drinking a coffee on a terras.

[@darkwoodmovies]

Ford and GM ruined the American city by congesting them with smelly, dangerous cars, removed public transit, and created the abomination that is the modern suburb.

[@fntime]

Only problem is that bike riders are weird and for the most part are assholes.

[@CaliforniaGuy88]

@@darkwoodmovies Agreed we should be way more dense and walkable.

[@robert10197]

I appreciate this type of stuff so much... it's incredible to see what was, and what now is...

[@j.mclouth4968]

I absolutely love this mans work! Phenomenal job, I wish he was in charge of our environmental procedures in the U.S.

[@rebekahcuriel-alessi2239]

Aach. Me too!!🌿

[@Fatavocado88]

This is amazing. The work and research that went into recreating New York. More cities should need this. Thank you!

[@slavicastepanovic259]

Great team work! Thank you. This should be done around the globe for all of us to see what impact on nature do we have now and what should we do.

[@dianaallaham2801]

There’s an amazing clip in the movie ‘Lucy’ that shows a time-lapse of I think New York from what it is now and back to the dinosaur age

[@duasyed6116]

Yes!! believe it or not, I actually came here from that scene. I was so mesmerized by it...

[@Staboogie777]

Ha! I was going to say the same thing!

[@Staboogie777]

Devs is on Netflix, they also show some really cool scenes of history! Jesus on the cross, cavemen it’s really good show too.

[@ianerixon]

I always thought that cool 50/50 split of present Manhattan and natural manhattan was just a clever photoshop of a generic tree line composited onto present day. Awesome to learn how much effort and passion actually went into this whole project to truly discover the island as it was.

[@jillianfaith5172]

I'm a native New Yorker, born in Queens. I moved to North Carolina as a kid, but have always had a deep love and appreciation for the place I was born. As an artist, specifically landscape, I have always wondered what present day NYC looked like hundreds of years ago. I've done lots of research but still feel there is a lack of information. This is a great video!!! Well done!! 👍

[@Man-in-the-green]

See Russel Shorto’s book...

[@smithmcsmith9218]

This is so amazing I wish I could see this for places all over the world.

[@pradeepnaidu987]

This is what i call , a real TED talk !!

[@mariecolette9066]

This is fascinating. Reminds me of a school trip they took us to Inwood Park at the top of Manhattan, the last wild area never developed. They showed us caves where the Indians lived, listed all the animals that once lived here. Just amazing i never thought of my city like that

[@sumantkumar9262]

We need more of such research and more involvement of people (giving them meaning to live). Love from Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India.

[@scangazi]

wow. what did I just watch? somebody give this man a nobel prize or something

[@kekoproduction4439]

England is the biggest city in America

[@Bandstand]

This meme has no bounds. It's in every video haha

[@burnsmybritches5857]

KEKO Production England was. Now Mexico is the biggest city in the U.S. now.

[@AS-zr6iw]

KEKO Production are you an idiot? NYC is the biggest city in America, not england

[@alexbleks]

Just as stupid as Americans thinks Norway is the capital of Sweden; LOOOOOOL xD

[@Bandstand]

KEKO Production makes a obvious joke, Free Dom calls him an idiot even though he IS the idiot. Then Alexbleks calls Americans stupid when he acting dumber than Americans. I love KZbin. haha

[@ezrabeyman3196]

I absolutely love the history of this great city. Thanks for sharing!

[@rebekahcuriel-alessi2239]

This was, frankly, unbelievably stunning. Thank you thank you thank you!!!🌞🌿🏞️🌲🌳🌴🏣🏢

[@mmedefarge]

Where I live, all new high risers have to be green buildings. The entire skins of these buildings are solar collectors, they treat their own waste & reuse water for cooling & heating. These buildings are giant solar collectors which put all unused energy collected back into the electric grid. Using a panoply of renewable energy sources, wind, solar, algae, hydrogen fuels could virtually eliminate the impact of the internal combustion engine & greatly lessen the need for polluting energy plants

[@Rank1Artist]

10 years ago?

[@mmedefarge]

@@Rank1Artist Longer than that.

[@Rank1Artist]

MmeDefarge (Expose NYC Meth Labs) bruh you responded after 10 years

[@mmedefarge]

@@Rank1Artist My original post was from about the same time the vid came out....and you responded to it 10 yrs. later. So what?

[@Rank1Artist]

MmeDefarge (Expose NYC Meth Labs) that’s a real long time ago, I just don’t think I’ve ever seen a YT comment this old

[@Siglojunior]

Thanks for the gratefulness that we founded New York... Greetz from the Netherlands

[@sonnylatchstring]

Then you started the decay

[@kabatake]

NYC was not founded by anyone; finding something assumes that it did not exist. there were people who lived there before it was "founded"

[@bartobruintjes7056]

@@kabatake No Kwak. Otherwise all the city's on this earth never have been founded so they don't exist.

[@godofthisshit]

@Rinderend A Black Dominican actually.

[@Man-in-the-green]

@@kabatake New Amsterdam was founded by Peter Stuyvesant.

[@strafrag1]

A super project. Thank you.

[@jamesr1703]

I don't know how any nature loving human being could live in NYC or any city like it for that matter. Central Park is not enough. I'll take living on the shores of Lake Michigan as I do now. Nature is healing, replenishing and calming.

[@e4t662]

Absolutely right.

[@puviyarasu_]

I am so glad I got this video on my feed. This gives such a unique perspective on how cities came to be how they are now

[@chicaloca5307]

This was very interesting. It actually made me sad in a way that all that beautiful nature what once was is lost now.

[@whatevtube]

Well done, a true visualization of the network of nature.

[@leekovalskyj9218]

Important work, and wonderful presentation. This affords New Yorkers more of a 'sense of place' than that available to any other non-Indigenous inhabitants of North or South America.

[@lazystonedmonk438]

This thing always amazed me every time im stoned, I always wonder how one place became what it is today, how the place looks like in the past.

[@covenantoflegions6825]

Woah! Ive never liked much in school but this was really interesting!

[@Abcflc]

RIP natural world

[@wanderer6813]

There still plenty of natural land. The whole world isn't one big city

[@Abcflc]

actually most of the world has been intervened in one way or another by humans (roads/rail/plastic pollution/fertilized runoff/mining/deforestation/agriculture/settlements)

[@nigelio3]

You sure about that? Most of the world huh?

[@darrenpat182]

definitely has, no question, we are all fucked, the CO2 wont stop rising, nobody is willing to change.

[@GhostofTradition]

get out of the city and you'll see

[@benmossad2073]

WOW, just WOW, GREAT material !!!

[@tudorjason]

3:20 - That would be an awesome map to have painted on a wall in one's home. It could be large and even 3D.

[@JoseMartinez-df2db]

Please do this project for Chicago and including the settlements of the Miami, Algonquin, Potawatomi and Milwaukee.

[@inkyguy]

Jose Martinez, and Los Angeles County.

[@robertb1893]

That's not as interesting because those haven't been as terraformed as manhattan.

[@michaelcarroll5170]

xcrunner trackrunner well Chicago used to be a wetland. Same as Milwaukee.

[@Lioness_Es]

If everyone up and left LA it would revert back to be the large, sprawling desert it once was.

[@calebhightower6676]

And Atlanta as well.

[@rebelreloading5265]

In 2409 that city will be unrecognizable

[@danielgolus4600]

In which way? Bigger and taller buildings? If so, we're seeing that already. It's a good sign of economic vibrancy. Definitely NOT static.

[@FastCarsNoRules220]

It would probably look like that movie Fifth Element by then.

[@brys555]

In 2409 that city will be deep under water.

[@reidl4022]

I want a ted talk just about how that map was made, its remarkable!

[@eduardorojas5873]

This is the coolest thing I have seen for a better NYC and world. Awesome!!

[@DementedCaver]

"They paved paradise and put up a parking lot." Joni Mitchell

[@madmatmp]

It’s funny I’ve been to New York but never York and I live in the UK.

[@pashvonderc381]

Same here, also I've been to Plymouth Mass. but never to Plymouth UK, even though it was just along the coast..

[@avega2792]

You're right, that's hilarious!

[@GoonOnFire]

@@avega2792 I laughed for hours at this joke. I will frame this comment and pass it down to my grand children one day, and the children before them.

[@virvisquevir3320]

GoonOnFire - So let me in on the joke. They both went to somewhere far away but not to somewhere close by their home. I don't see what's so funny about that.

[@Man-in-the-green]

New York was not called after the city of York, but after the Duke of York. I live in Old Amsterdam and I have been several times to New Amsterdam. Love them both!

[@iloveamerica1966]

Thank you, for implementing and sharing your passion. IMHO, as amazing as PayPal, Tesla, and Spacex.

[@relaxmarco]

This is a very interesting perspective over one of the most captivating places in the world.

[@ittdust]

2:45 Went to NYC a few months ago for the first time and in wandering about I happened upon nearly this exact location

[@Man-in-the-green]

Russel Shorto described it in his books about New Amsterdam.

[@Lioness_Es]

Thank you Sir. Please do Los Angeles then Miami.

[@CDion-ol2je]

Absolutely loved this!

[@catchison8671]

This is amazing!! Thank you for sharing this informational video!!☺️👏🏼

[@TS_Mind_Swept]

So what you're saying is that New York actually used to be a nice place until man came along

[@redskins165]

0MindSwept0 exactly

[@redskins165]

I seen a documentary a long time ago..a native tribe story..and it said that today's Broadway street is the exact trail that the tribe would use to go get fresh water and fish..from the river and the coast.so yea it's crazy how it is..

[@thomaspayne6866]

Go live in the woods then you animal. Oh, you don’t want that do you?

[@_JellyDonut_]

Sabrina Dugan By "turned it into a crap hole" I think maybe you mean "built it into one of the affluent and important cities in human history." There's still plenty of nature upstate if that's what you're into

[@arathcazares1326]

Sabrina Dugan you wanted to move to Chicago area, who are very grassy and weed of grass with concrete, who are filled with poverty with poor people and not renovate buildings? I’m Confused

[@jiggermast]

Whenever I'm unfortunate enough to be in a city, any city, a line Clint Eastwood came out with in a film while looking over San Francisco or New York (not sure which), always now springs to mind, it went something like this...."Must have been truly beautiful before man came along and loused it all up!"

[@sniffglue6900]

then stay out of the city, self righteous douche

[@Stampy2077]

I feel like I’m the only one that thinks cities are prettier and better than nature

[@watcherob]

Than go live in the forest you hippie. Big cities are the best thing in the world. Mankind did an awesome job.

[@watcherob]

TheFlamingOreo Nope, i agree.

[@onee]

watcherob I wouldn't call it "the best thing in the world". But they were a necessity after the industrial revolution.

[@KewhoMin]

That side-by-side photo is powerful. Great video

[@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork]

I live 90 miles north of NYC... I despise this city... I have visited it about 10 times in my life... and never really enjoyed it... but this video makes me wish I could go back in time and explore this when it was natural. Great video and talk!

[@benjamin_markus]

the 'frogs, birds, bees, fish, beavers, bears and indians' moment killed me :DDD

[@drmarkaron]

came here looking for this!:)) It killed me too.

[@hemiedwards217]

I noted that too.

[@p0llenp0ny]

@Sabrina Dugan Found the communist.

[@shamicentertainment1262]

@@p0llenp0ny environmentalist more like.

[@lancelotkillz]

Some of the pictures were so pixelated they could be considered radio☺️

[@hajinka98_]

In Sweden and Norway almost all of the landscape and trees are completely untouched. its pretty amazing actually.

[@lilianaprina5991]

Thanks Eric Sanderson is such beautiful information. New York City is an adventure any way one looks at such a challenging City escape.

[@Regicide1990]

Canadian population is one of the most diverse populations in the world, yet its crime rate is pretty low.

[@TwentyTwelveee]

amazing

[@richardbarry04553]

It would be super-cool to restore some of these amazing natural habitats in NYC wherever possible. Some of these habitats are much easier than others to put back.

[@pabloizem1022]

oou, this is such an interesting video. I have liked it so much, and a really good work from people who reconstructed the map!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@xit1254]

New York is a beautiful city, in spite of all these smug, holier than thou comments.

[@saiyangod9640]

rd f true

[@scasey1960]

NYC is a sewer compared to London. Disgusting and filthy.

[@BlackKettleRanch]

Planet Earth is a beautiful planet, in spite of all these destructive, superioristic, capitalist money quests.

[@MrPatt1983]

@@scasey1960 I've been to London and enjoyed it very much. But I did not find it to be clean.

[@Amateur_Pianist_472]

rd f it’s a concrete jungle, no traditional architecture

[@clashmasterx3253]

I wish I could just see what the entire country looked like throughout time

[@metro25production]

"I wish I could just see what the entire country looked like before we stole it from the natives" I just fixed it to look more logical 😉

[@dynamicphotography_]

This has me interested in visiting New York. I'm in Oregon.

[@MusicLoverr]

beautiful place, it seems worth a visit and enjoy the view

[@Atoyota]

All for it here, although some form of mass transit for both people and product needs to be a part of this. There are a lot of systems that need to work in concert with natural ones, but the sentiment is on target.

[@iangraves1291]

I love history

[@sandman204]

Cheers to the epilogue 🍻👏

[@leighparker9109]

Thanks a bunch for this.

[@shadowsinmymind9]

Him: I didnt grow up in New York, I grew up out west in the Sierra Nevada mountains like you see here: *shows pixelated mess Me: Wow, what a gorgeous place

[@bcad2438]

The split image is inaccurate. The natural shore should line up with Pearl Street which is several blocks inland.

[@bojack40]

Bc Ad what’s your qualification for saying that. This guy seems more than qualified and reliable academically and through experience

[@quack9694]

@@bojack40 this video is 10 years old, more recent findings and more modern computer models back up his claim

[@darylsmith9318]

This was really fascinating.

[@taylormartinlucas]

Absolutely outstanding work.

[@Ragnarok182]

Watching this, actually makes me sad, this place could have been a really incredable National Park if they didn't build New York City there and built it else where.

[@daveforz]

There's definitely thousands of destroyed national parks around the work

[@Thellbro]

And then that ”elsewhere” would ”destroy” the nature in the same way. With that logic, mankind has to erase it self from the face of the earth...which make no sense at all.

[@tracydrennan3296]

Ahh... Did you know that particular areas were inhabited due to deep water ports and access to the seas . I know that sounds like some evil “ white Patriarchy “ agenda , and all . But that’s how civilization was created , that how your cellphone and you’re over priced fancy coffee shops made it into existence . Isn’t that fascinating .

[@danielgolus4600]

You don't "build" cities. They develop over time, and are usually founded for economic purposes.

[@Rickyrab]

Guess why the courthouse are on the site of the collect pond. Well, it became a wetland... Which became a low point when drained, prone to disease and mosquitoes... So it turned into a slum, the notorious Five Points. So of course the authorities tore the slum down and built public works. Today's courthouses.

[@c.norbertneumann4986]

Do you mean the Old New York County Courthouse that was built at 52 Chamber Street when notoriously corrupt William ("Boss") Tweed was mayor of New York City? The construction of that courthouse cost the taxpayers 300 million $, which is the equivalent of 7 billion $ in today's currency.

[@benm5221]

Great presenter and presentation. Another project for some is to scroll back even further to visualize the geological features and transformations of tge area of Manhattan Island over time.

[@LibraBlue1962]

In the book “Five Points,” it tells you that The Collect was a beautiful lake, that people would go there to relax. Then, they built tanneries and all kinds of production and slaughter houses. The Collect became so toxic, from all the dumping, it became “a putrid nuisance.” By 1802, The Common Council ordered The Collect filled with rock and soil from the then “Bunker Hill.” By 1813, The Collect was filled in and Bunker Hill was gone.

[@CB3474]

I can't believe it. In one city block, there could've been 100 trees, thousands of animals and insects, millions of succulents and flowers, and a large group of Native American Indians all in that one section.

[@scasey1960]

CB3474 I think what you can’t believe is the monumental destruction of the eco-system by mankind within several hundred years. Do you also fail to conceive of climate change?

[@inkyguy]

It's the suburbs where few ppl live and displace and destroy both flora and fauna that are destroying the environment. Cities concentrate people leaving much more open land to cultivate or grow wild.

[@Rao665]

@@inkyguy nah. its the cities. Lol funny how the rich urban fucks tturn up their noses at rural people and "suburbia" "its not us its THEM!" The area of New York was an ecological goldmine. now its just one giant mass of concrete, glass, plastic, rubber and money.

[@Rao665]

@@inkyguy and you forget the suburbs of today are just the "urban" areas of tomorrow, just lile the urban areas of today were the "suburbs" of the past.

[@suriname121]

It was new Amsterdam before new york

[@DiogenesOfCa]

@iqbal padilla It was a a glacier before it was Native American land.

[@DiogenesOfCa]

@@gogol293 Woolly Mammoth picnic, would be a great band name.

[@ruzzelladrian907]

This is absolutely beautiful.

[@thebridge7838]

...awesome, thank you! 👍🏻

[@TeddyKrimsony]

why only in 480p??

[@nicktait50]

2009

[@johnottr]

NYC...the greatest city in the history of the world.

[@BlackKettleRanch]

One of the greatest examples of greed and human destruction.

[@engendex7721]

Tina Huston One of the greatest examples of stupidity in all of KZbin’s comment history.

[@alvarobuenogarcia3116]

Hi. Sincerely Dubai

[@TheFirstPatriot]

Álvaro Bueno García You’re city is nothing but super tall buildings and a desert

[@alvarobuenogarcia3116]

@@TheFirstPatriot not my city (I'm from Spain) but I understand what you mean. I was just trying to be funny.

[@mariocisneros911]

Thank god Vancouver stopped tearing down all its natural beauty before it was too late . Stanley Park is a forest next to / in the city

[@2cool0]

honestly if they kept new york like how it is in the thumbnail where it's half city and half forest, that would be amazing. imagine just being in the city and then being able to just step into a lush forest like that.

[@ultrakool]

from paradise to babylon

[@brookssilber]

Now you gotta do England: before the citry

[@bennyboiart7781]

Brooks Silber do you mean London, or are you implying that all of England is just one big city?

[@axelfoley1406]

That would be great. But I think you meant London, lol. London has gone through so many changes since 100 AD.

[@shukriwafiq5220]

I don't even know who's joking anymore.

[@aerofpv2109]

Great insight but I wished for a link to your website Mr. Anderson, which you mentioned toward the end. I would like to see your overlay maps as discussed. I only see TED links.

[@billmoss2877]

Eric Sanderson thank you.