Page "City" Paragraph 59

While David Kessler and Peter Temin consider ancient Rome to be the largest city before 19th century London and the first to have exceeded a population of over 1 million, George Modelski considers medieval Baghdad, with an estimated population of 1. 2 million at its peak, to be the largest city before 19th century London and the first with a population of over one million.

Others estimate that Baghdad's population may have been as large as 2 million in the 9th century .< ref >