This is something I am wondering about. Skyrim the game has 5 major cities: Solitude, Riften, Whiterun, Windhelm and Markarth.
But, Skyrim the place has 8 major cities: + Winterhold, Dawnstar, Snowhawk and Falkreath. (Sure, some list Karthwasten also) They all have city-states where they are the main city. (OK, Snowhawk was only in "Arena" but the others are well known)
So, what happened to the other cities? Did they shrunk during the last 200 years and became small towns, or are they destroyed? Have the lore been changed so that they now are only small towns or simply does they no longer exist?
How will the city-states look now?

Snowhawk was just a fort in Arena from what I believe. Falkreath is also just a fort that is occupied, Dawnstar IS a major city I believe, not sure about Winterhold.

the other cities will be there, they just won't be as large as the 5 main ones, Markarth, Solitude, Whiterun, Riften and Windhelm.

Maybe dragons ate all teh cityz.

The 5 major cities are the walled cities

The other 4 capitols are not big enough to be walled cities so they are open (this is my interpretation)...but hopefully they are still big.



I think there are some new cities too: I dont remember ever seeing Karthwasten, Riverwood, Oakwood, or Pelgen on the older maps.

this map should give you a decent idea

http://skyrimguild.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Skyrim-map.png

And depending on the map (like one from Oblivion era), a city may have been downsized. Or, with dragons and civil war, we may find a town or city half burned and abandoned. Not one of the ones they've named for this game, but the other ones from the older maps...

Also considering it's 200 Years after Oblivion (remember, Arena through Oblivion take place in the span of 50 years), changes happen as the population shifts.

What city is the biggest?

falkreath was in a recent article. its now a small military camp where you can join the legion

Windhelm, its the main capitol. But Solitude will be close in second

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/news/news-9529-The-Elder-Scrolls-V--Skyrim-In-Depth-Hands-On-Preview-%E2%80%93-The-Long-Road-to-Falkreath.html


theres the link

Cool. So Winterhold, Dawnstar and Falkreath are still there and has their holds/city-states they just don't count as major cities. Then I hope the major cities are like Imperial City and the 16 Towns are more like Bruma in sice. Because settlements would probobly be like they where in Oblivion.

Edit: Or not. So Falkreath is now a small military fort? I hoper there is an ingame explination why.