Urbanization (from Latin urbanus - urban) is a process of increasing the role of cities, urban culture and "urban relations" in the development of society, a growth of urban population as compared to the rural one, and "spread" of the highest cultural patterns formed in cities outside the city limits. 
According to the Free Encyclopedia

The first phase of urbanization began in the fourth and early third millennium B.C. The history of ancient Egypt is perhaps the best illustration of this process. The late nineteenth century A.D. saw an urbanization explosion followed by mega-urbanization at the beginning of the twentieth, which reinforced the evolution of nationhood. Today it is not enough for a person just to be in the process. The city dweller needs technology and socio-technological transformation. Where does an artist stand in all this? A person who was born to create? Everyone has their own way. Karine Paronyanc has chosen searching and thinking as her tool. Finding the golden ratio in the heap of architectural structures, encrypting the urban bustle in the ornament, feeling sad for the silence in the old temple, reflecting on the problems of modern man, that is Karine's choice. The Latvian artist Karine Paronyanc named her exhibition URBAN PHILOSOPHY. Her works include the search for new horizons, the broken line of perspective, the sigmentation of composition. And in almost each of them you can find a hidden portal. A portal to another world. Karine’s world that is deep and high, dynamic and philosophical, ironic and heart-warming. Do not be afraid to step through the portals. Eventually (maybe after a little bit of wandering) you will reach YOURSELF.