Ancient cities were complex, political, and economic entities, but they also suffered from inequality, poor sanitation, and disease--often more than rural areas. Offering a balanced understanding of urbanism and a synthesis of previous research, Scott Hutson examines ancient Maya cities, including Chunchucmil, Tikal, and Dzibilchaltun, to determine why people chose to live in these urban environments. He argues that despite the hazards of urban life, Maya cities continued to lure residents for many centuries. With built forms that welcomed crowds, neighborhoods that offered domestic comforts, marketplaces that facilitated the exchange of goods and ideas, and opportunities to expand social networks and capital, Maya cities were used in familiar ways.