FYI, I talked with my friend, and apparently a similar situation happened after the Black Death in the middle ages. Since basic communication and transportation systems broke down, the rich were better off moving from country estates to living in urban areas so they could talk with each other easily. This centralization of intellectuals started giving momentum to the renaissance.

However, the situation was a bit different back then since much of the urban population had died and didn't need to be displaced.

I have no idea if similar situations happened in ancient Middle East or Asia.