The journalist completely misses the point: high level of urbanisation, high population density was allowed by skyscrapers. To have skyscrapers, you famously ha

The journalist completely misses the point: high level of urbanisation, high population density was allowed by skyscrapers. To have skyscrapers, you famously had to have 2-3 conditions: - solid rock for the base to hold the structure (hence no marsh, see NYC) - steel, steel concrete (look at any skyscraper photos) for the structure - no open windows above the hight of 2-3 floors because of the wind etc. (neither below, because of the smog) -> hence AC. And elevator. AC was a key building block for the hubs of "Modern North America". The other key was feeding (artificial fertilisers and huge mechanised farms). And an Empire to finance it (just lift the debt ceiling PR euphemism in today's economics terms).