MODULE 44: The Origin and Influences of Urbanization
LEARNING GOALS
44-1 Explain how and where cities originated.
44-2 Explain which processes influence patterns of urbanization.
Introduction to Cities
Definition of Cities:
A city is characterized as a relatively large, densely populated settlement.
Cities have populations much larger than rural towns and villages.
Purpose of Cities:
Cities act as significant commercial, governmental, and cultural hubs for surrounding regions.
Urbanization:
Defined as the movement of people from rural areas to cities, representing a major trend in contemporary society.
The Origin and Spread of Cities
44-1: How and Where Did Cities Originate?
Historical Background:
For thousands of years, humans lived as nomads before establishing permanent settlements that evolved into cities.
Permanent Settlements
Agricultural Villages:
Formed when humans chose to remain in one location to farm.
Located near fertile river valleys to utilize annual flooding that enriched soil.
Population Dynamics:
Early agricultural villages usually had populations not exceeding 200, commonly consisting of related individuals.
Inhabitants engaged primarily in food procurement activities.
Emergence of Cities
Social Development:
As populations increased, individuals began to diverge from agricultural labor, leading to urbanization.
Key Elements for Urbanization:
Agricultural Surplus:
Innovations in farming increased productivity, resulting in food surplus—excess beyond what families needed.
Enabled population support and diversification of occupations.
Example of Occupations: Potters, priests, and merchants emerged as new roles.
Socioeconomic Stratification:
Refers to structuring society into distinct socioeconomic classes.
Emergence of governments and control over goods as population complexity increased.
First Urban Revolution:
Reflected the agricultural and socioeconomic changes leading to the formation of the earliest cities.
Major Urban Hearth Areas
Locations of Early Cities:
Mesopotamia (between Tigris and Euphrates rivers), Nile River Valley, Indus River Valley, Huang He (Yellow River) Valley in China, Mesoamerica, Andean highlands.
Ancient Middle East Civilizations:
Sumer (3200 BCE): Included cities like Uruk, Ur, and Lagash.
Akkadian Empire (2350-2300 BCE): Included Mari and extensions along the Euphrates and Tigris rivers.
Egyptian Old Kingdom (2850-2052 BCE): Extent along Nile with cities like Thebes and Memphis.
Urban Characteristics
Size and Density:
Early Mesopotamian cities spanned 0.5 to 2 square miles (1.3 to 5 square kilometers) with populations rarely exceeding 30,000 but densities reaching 10,000 per square mile.
Urban living likely existed earlier across various hearth areas, including early urban centers in West Africa like Jenne-Jeno.
Jenne-Jeno:
Flourished from 250 BCE to 1200 CE along the Niger River, showcasing organized settlements with diverse occupations, enhancing trade.
Site and Situation
Site:
Refers to the absolute physical location of a place, considering terrain, harbors, or rivers important to early settlements.
Situation:
Denotes the relative location concerning human activities and features like trade routes or resources.
E.g., Pittsburgh’s growth tied to rivers and later diversified industries and education.
Processes That Influence Patterns of Urbanization
44-2: Influential Processes
Sources of Urban Growth:
Migration from rural areas to cities.
Natural population increase.
Historical Migration Trends:
Rural-to-Urban migration historically fueled urban population growth; however, in modern estimates, natural increase plays a significant role.
Urbanization and Industrialization
Historical Context:
Urbanization aligned closely with industrialization and capitalism, which depends on urban labor forces.
Example Cases:
The growth of cities like Chicago, Tokyo, and Mumbai driven by rural migration for jobs and improved lifestyles.
Case Study: China
Pre-1970s China:
Predominantly rural populations with government restrictions on urbanization, enforcing rural labor under Communist ideologies.
Post-1978 Reforms:
Shift in state policy allowed for internal migration; many moved to urban centers for economic opportunities.
Current Statistics:
Approximately 65% of China's population is urban; projections suggest 70% by 2030, with forecasts of 90% by 2050.
Urban Billion Consequences
Implications of Urbanization:
The influx will significantly alter labor markets, housing, consumption patterns, and cultural dynamics in urban vs. rural populations.
China's Largest Cities:
Cities with populations of over 10 million include Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, influencing urban planning and economic development.
Rural-to-Urban Migration Trends in Africa and Asia
Modern Trends:
Large migration flows due to economic opportunities and factors like wars, natural disasters, and adverse conditions in rural areas.
Job Market Challenges:
Many migrants face low-skilled, low-paying job markets, leading to difficulties in securing stable livelihoods.
United Nations Predictions:
Around four-fifths of future urban growth will derive from rural-to-urban migration in Africa and Asia.
Transportation and Communication Innovations
City Mobility:
Transportation methods such as railroads, trolleys, subways, and vehicles have profoundly impacted urban layouts.
Automobiles:
Mass production of personal vehicles, notably the Ford Model T, expanded mobility and reshaped urban landscapes.
Communication Advances:
The telegraph and telephone innovations significantly improved long-distance communication, facilitating business operations and urban growth.
Conclusion: Evolution of Cities
Changing Urban Landscapes:
Modern cities' evolution from early forms reflects historical, social, and economic transformations over millennia, continuing to adapt to new challenges and technologies.