What type of city planning is exemplified by Paestum?

Paestum is a prime example of orthogonal planning, which is characterized by the use of a grid layout that aligns streets at right angles. This planning style allowed for efficient organization of space, which facilitated navigation, trade, and the overall growth of the city. The layout of Paestum consists of streets that intersect in a grid pattern, creating blocks of consistent size and shape. This kind of planning reflects the influence of the Greek colonists who founded the city and highlights their interest in orderly and systematic urban design.

Orthogonal planning contrasts with organic layouts, where streets and structures grow more randomly and without a defined grid pattern, often shaped by the landscape or existing structures. Radial planning organizes the city around a central point with streets radiating outward, often seen in later urban designs. Concentric planning refers to development that occurs in layers around a central core, which is also different from the grid-based approach seen in Paestum. The importance of orthogonal planning in ancient urbanism is illustrated by how it facilitated civic life and organization, making it the correct answer in this context.