Professor M.E Smith from the University of Arizona has published the work "Encyclopedia of Urban Studies". In this book he defines a city based on housing construction in a dense, heterogeneous society.
Archaeologists have discovered various artefacts that have proven this heterogeneous society, thus identifying some of the most ancient cities in the world that continue to be inhabited today.
But the determination of the oldest is still difficult, due to the many factors. However, according to the evidence found so far, these are the oldest cities in the world.
Damascus, Siri. The ancient city of Damascus is widely known as one of the cities that have long been inhabited on land without interruption. Scientists have found evidence that in the suburbs of the city there has been civilization that 11,000 years ago, 9,000 b.c
Biblos, Lebanon. It was once known as the oldest city in the world. The area was inhabited 9000 years ago, 7000 b.c
Xheriko, Palestine. Many scholars recognize him as the oldest in the world. Fortress was built 8800 years ago (6800 b.c, but it was inhabited since 7000 b.c
Teba (Luxor) in Egypt, the capital of Upper Egypt, became the country's religious capital until it fell after the arrival of the Roman Empire.
Rej, Iran. also known as the Rages, this town has traces of residence that 8000 years ago.
Aleppo, Syria, has been inhabited since 8,000 years ago, without interruption. However, a densely populated area, just 20km from Aleppo, shows that there was civilization 13,000 years ago that would make it older than Damascus.
Eridu, Iraq. Discussed as one of the oldest cities in the world. It is considered the first town in southern Mesopotamia. The Sumerian King's List, an ancient stone tablet written in Sumerian, talks about the existence of this city for 60,000 years, but there is no evidence for that period.
Varanasi, India. Local mythology says that Varanasi was founded by Shiva. Digging in 2014 proved that the city has been inhabited since 3800 years ago.
Plovdiv, Bulgaria. There are traces of residence that 8000 years ago.
Uruk, Iraq, was founded in ancient times by King Enmekar. He is also mentioned in the sumer tablet, on the Sumerian King's List, as one of the oldest in the world. In Gilgamesh's Epi, Gilgamesh builds a wall around Uruk and becomes king of the city. Archaeologists have discovered cities built on cities in Uruk, 7,000 years ago, a city that has been replaced by another built 5800 years ago, up to 4000 years ago.