Urbanism is increasingly important in the 21st century as more people live in cities. Understanding past urban development and land use can provide insights into current challenges. This review highlights how new methods in archaeology are revealing urban history over the past 5,500 years. Urbanism is a key part of human land use and social organization, with over half of the world's population now living in cities. Cities are central to the technosphere and a hallmark of the Anthropocene, impacting climate change, sustainability, and ecosystems. Archaeology and historical ecology provide valuable data for urban studies, helping to understand past urban forms, their interactions with the environment, and their impact on land use. New theoretical and methodological approaches in urban archaeology allow for comparative studies of urbanism across different environments and time periods. These approaches include remote sensing, biomolecular studies, and computational methods, enabling quantitative insights into urban land use, resilience, and environmental impact. The past offers a rich database for understanding urban dynamics and informing contemporary urban planning and policy. Urbanism has evolved in diverse environments, from Mesopotamia to the Amazon and Mongolia, showing varied forms of urban development. The study of past urban land use and its environmental legacy is crucial for understanding current urban challenges. Archaeology can provide insights into how past societies adapted to environmental changes, such as water management and climate resilience. The integration of archaeological data with computational models helps explore urban scaling and social dynamics. Urbanism is not just a modern phenomenon but has roots in ancient societies, with diverse forms of urban development across the globe. The past provides a long-term perspective on urbanization, helping to inform sustainable urban futures. Urban archaeology, alongside historical ecology and paleoecology, is increasingly important for understanding urban processes and their interactions with the environment. The study of past urbanism can inform contemporary urban planning by highlighting adaptive strategies and sustainable practices. Urbanism is a complex phenomenon with diverse forms and impacts, shaped by social, economic, and environmental factors. The past offers valuable insights into urban resilience, adaptation, and sustainability, which are essential for addressing current urban challenges. By studying the past, we can better understand the dynamics of urbanization and its impact on the environment, informing future urban development and policy.Urbanism is increasingly important in the 21st century as more people live in cities. Understanding past urban development and land use can provide insights into current challenges. This review highlights how new methods in archaeology are revealing urban history over the past 5,500 years. Urbanism is a key part of human land use and social organization, with over half of the world's population now living in cities. Cities are central to the technosphere and a hallmark of the Anthropocene, impacting climate change, sustainability, and ecosystems. Archaeology and historical ecology provide valuable data for urban studies, helping to understand past urban forms, their interactions with the environment, and their impact on land use. New theoretical and methodological approaches in urban archaeology allow for comparative studies of urbanism across different environments and time periods. These approaches include remote sensing, biomolecular studies, and computational methods, enabling quantitative insights into urban land use, resilience, and environmental impact. The past offers a rich database for understanding urban dynamics and informing contemporary urban planning and policy. Urbanism has evolved in diverse environments, from Mesopotamia to the Amazon and Mongolia, showing varied forms of urban development. The study of past urban land use and its environmental legacy is crucial for understanding current urban challenges. Archaeology can provide insights into how past societies adapted to environmental changes, such as water management and climate resilience. The integration of archaeological data with computational models helps explore urban scaling and social dynamics. Urbanism is not just a modern phenomenon but has roots in ancient societies, with diverse forms of urban development across the globe. The past provides a long-term perspective on urbanization, helping to inform sustainable urban futures. Urban archaeology, alongside historical ecology and paleoecology, is increasingly important for understanding urban processes and their interactions with the environment. The study of past urbanism can inform contemporary urban planning by highlighting adaptive strategies and sustainable practices. Urbanism is a complex phenomenon with diverse forms and impacts, shaped by social, economic, and environmental factors. The past offers valuable insights into urban resilience, adaptation, and sustainability, which are essential for addressing current urban challenges. By studying the past, we can better understand the dynamics of urbanization and its impact on the environment, informing future urban development and policy.