User:NiciaD/sandbox

Urbanization
The paragraph about Thai farmers was anecdotal, and didn't seem to help explain what causes urbanization. Also, there was a block quote on this topic, which didn't pertain at all to urbanization. Also, the "Dominant conurbation" section isn't very clear, and in my opinion ends up being more confusing than helpful in understanding urbanization. I think that the article does a good job of covering the basic topics that are related the urbanization. However, some of the sections need to have citations added, since there are many pieces of information without a given source. The citations that are there do seem to mostly be reliable, from sources such as Cambridge university, or the United Nations. On the talk page there has been discussion of adding a demographics section, having a clearer definition, and standardizing the spelling. The article is part of WikiProjects Urban studies and planning, Architecture, Sociology and United States Public Policy, and has been rated start class and c-class. One thing that I noticed was different from how we looked at urbanization in class is that the Wikipedia article doesn't talk about the human impact of urbanization as much as the Khan Academy video does.

History of Verona
This article doesn't have an introduction paragraph, which would be useful to give a brief overview of the history. Also, the sections the cover the 18th century onward are very short, and need to be fleshed out. The article seems quite neutral, but there was only one source cited through the entire article. This article is part of WikiProjects Italy and European history. However, nothing has been written on the talk page. The article is currently rated as being start class.

= History of Verona Edits =

Renaissance
From 1490 to 1516, the city was in the power of the Emperor Maximilian I, who aimed to make it the capital of the renewed German kingdom in northern Italy. He was supported by the residents of Verona, who were more loyal to Germany than Italy at the time. ''On May 30 1509, at a meeting of the city's population, Maximilian was unanimously approved to become the leader of Verona. '' In that period Verona also suffered for a plague (1511–1512), which killed 13,000 inhabitants. With the treaty of Brussels (December 1516), Maximilian gave the city to his grandson Charles V of Spain, who in turn ceded it to France. The latter finally gave it back to Venice, who started a program of fortifications that made Verona their main stronghold on the mainland, its garrison including half of their troops.

The peace led to a period of economic, cultural and artistic splendour for Verona. The city was embellished by a great number of palaces, churches and convents, many designed by the architect Michele Sanmicheli. ''The population rose to 55,000 by 1626, but another plague in 1629 reduced it again to some 20,000. ''

18th century
In 1776 a method of bellringing called the Veronese bellringing art was developed. Verona was occupied by Napoleon in 1797, but on Easter Monday – during the Veronese Easters – the populace rose up and drove out the French. It was then that Napoleon put an end to the Venetian Republic. Verona became Austrian territory when Napoleon signed the Treaty of Campo Formio on October 12, 1797. The Austrians took control of the city on January 18, 1798.

19th century
''Verona was taken from Austrian control by the Treaty of Pressburg in 1805, after the Austrian defeat by the French in Verona. '' It then became part of Napoleon's Kingdom of Italy, but was returned to Austria following Napoleon's defeat in 1814, when it became part of the Austrian-held Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. ''It was then used by the Austrians as their stronghold in Italy for the duration of their control. ''

In 1866, after the defeat of Königgrätz, the Austrians were forced out of Verona by the allied Prussians and Italians. ''Victor Emmanuel II, the king of Italy, came to Verona to take control along with his sons on November 18, 1866. '' In 1882 the city was struck by a large flood, which led to the construction of banks that changed the face of the ancient city, sweeping away the mills and the landing places on the river.

20th century
During World War II Verona was one of the most bombed cities in the area, due to its strategic position and the presence of ministries of the Italian Social Republic. In April 1945 the fleeing Germans destroyed all the bridges. Verona was awarded a Gold Medal of Military Valour for its support to the partisan war during the conflict.