4. Explain how topography and climate can influence the size and spatial distribution of settlements

what does topography and climate dictate?

where people can safely build, farm and trade

what do extreme climates and rugged terrain force?

typically force smaller, isolated, and highly dispersed populations

where are settlements typically built and why?

on relatively flat or gently sloping land in valleys to support agriculture, with mountains often acting as barriers to settlement expansion

at what scales does topography influence settlement?

topography influences settlement expansion at both small scales like Las Vegas and large scales such as rainfall patterns and settlement distribution in the United States

what other factors can override the influence of topography?

the attractiveness of the Italian coast

where are most of the world’s population and settlements distributed?

in relation to climate they are distributed in the temperature mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere

where do settlements not exist?

almost all climates, except the most extreme like arid lands, extreme cold, and high altitudes

what has enabled human inhabitation of these environments?

the advancement of technology has enabled human habitation in previously difficult environments