Utopia

In Book 2 Raphael offers an extended description of the Utopian state, economy, and culture. Utopia was a peninsula until its founder Utopos decided to separate it from the mainland by digging a channel to cut across the narrowest part of the peninsula (50). Along with certain features of its landscape, this makes it easily defensible.

Across the island there are 54 cities. Each of these is planned to be “as nearly identical as local conditions permit,” and each is no more than one day’s walk or 24 miles (50, 52). The city of Aircastle serves as the capitol due to its central location, and each year a parliament convenes there to plan economic activities and distribute surplus goods according to need (65). Cities receive food and raw materials for industry (e.g., wool, timber) from a system of agricultural communes that can be found across the island. Each of these settlements is staffed by 40 adults and two slaves. Daily operations are overseen by an elderly couple. These settlements are overseen by District Controllers. Every two years, half of these Landworkers move from the farm back to a city, while 20 new workers move to the farm to take their place.