The world’s best-known cities are home to iconic skylines: think the staggered skyscrapers of New York, the eclectic architecture of Chicago and the shiny towers of Shanghai. But while many of these cityscapes are seared into our memories, they haven’t always looked that way. Some have evolved over time, with a tower erected here, a building demolished there – while others seem to have sprung up almost overnight. Here are some incredible archive images and illustrations that show how city skylines have transformed through the years, decades and centuries.