The title covers the basics, but here are some more details.
I'm a middle-aged autistic lady and a particular interest of mine I can never get enough of is the long-term process behind the development of settlements into cities. Particularly in a pre-industrial era.
I also would be super interested in more recommendations for non-european settings. I am fascinated by that whole realm, too, but there's already an abundance of coverage there. I would especially love to learn more about mesoamerican, indian subcontinent, asian steppes, and sub-saharan african population centers.
I am happy to read nonfiction as well as historically-rooted fiction, with or without fantasy elements.
Bonus points if sewage and water management are covered – that's a special interest that I rarely see appropriately covered.
Also bonus points if the narrative focus is on the trades / craft / common person side of things rather than elevated figures like artistocracy. I'm more interested in quotidian reality than grand strategy.
Some books and other media that have scratched some of the itch:
–Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett – very airport-novel writing but the long-term building of the cathedral was a wonderful hook.
–Dandelion Dynasty series by Ken Liu – "Silkpunk" fantasy series that covered an enormous amount of social, political, technological and cultural progress in a heightened fictionalization of China's warring states eras
–Sheepfarmer's Daughter by Elizabeth Moon – first book in the Deed of Paksennarion trilogy that is the most ground-level sense of mercenary existence
-Books by David Macauly, especially Cathedral and City – books I bought ostensibly for the foster kids but as much for my own interest in beautifully but simply presented depictions of process across time.
–Les Miserables by Victor Hugo – I absolutely adore all of the asides and essays in the book, and the central plot elements around the growth of a particular town or region also delighted me. The focus on everyday people, with some heightened and exceptional people in the midst, also pleased me immensely.
Thank you very much in advance.
by I_paint_little_guys