Small timeline-a city-need resources-total newbie

[Khazar]

So I want to make a practice timeline.

I started one the other day in the Fallout universe, during the events prior to 1, with a PoD in 2076 and other in 2126, about a riot-control AI that believes the new people in the region are violating private property or something like that, amasses an army, and tries to kill everything. But it didn't get far, I was bored quick.

This time I want to make one in a 'closed' environment, a city. I want to make a drawing of the city in Paint, then start alternatehistoring(?).
This city (and thus the whole universe of the timeline) would be invented by me.

The point is that I don't know how to make a realistic city. Do you have resources I could use to design a believable city? An urban map, that is what I want to draw. Like patterns that reproduce in almost all cities...something like what is here but for cities. I would be very grateful.

Also, do you think this is a good idea? Should I start in some other way? By the way, I don't have extensive knowledge of anything*, so that's why I want to make a timeline in a small universe first.

*This is a more general question...where can I go to learn basic things to make althistory? Like for example, how long should a city take to come out of anarchy?how long until services collapse because of x catastrophe? how long does it take for the police to pacify an anarchic part of a city, like a neighbourhood? or for that matter, regions of countries? how long do invasions of countries take? things like that.

Thank you very much--if you help me that's it

[Grey Wolf]

Its certainly an interesting set of questions - I'm not sure there are set answers. It could be a good idea to look at a few examples

- Paris 1870-1871
- Rome 1849

For more modern ones, perhaps the German assault on the Warsaw Ghetto, or Leningrad during the siege may be instructive

For more "themed" answers, traditional wargame suppliers may well have information; their magazines, such as "Dragon", certainly do. I'd imagine a lot of back-copies are available on Ebay

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

[Talwar]

I like the idea; you've got me thinking about similar ideas for fictional places in our world.

From the link, this is the bit I like best:

9) The 'story' part of history is deceptiv, once humanity is involved, there is no narrative, no grand design. Trying to impose one will only confuse and delude.

.

In your shoes, I'd probably start at the city's founding; I'd establish why the place is settled, and I'd sketch the general geography of its eventual city limits.

Then I'd proceed along two tracks. I'd write a quick summary of what happens over an appropriate time period, such as disasters, politics, primary industries, maybe a few key personalities. After that, I'd take a copy of the base map and revise it to show the city's growth and changes over that time period. You could keep it simple until you reach your end point by just using a basic hex map grid and just coloring it according to whether it's "city centre", "industrial", "residential", or whatever. Repeat until you reach the "present".

Alternately - maybe there are some useful websites about urban planning that might explain the basics of city layouts?

[Khazar]

Thank you, much appreciated.