Unit 6 Chapters 1-3

6.1 - The Origin and Influences of Urbanization

Learning Objectives

• Explain what urbanization is and what factors initiated it.

• Analyze how site, situation, transportation, migration, and economic change influence urban growth.

Key Vocabulary

Key Concepts

What is Urbanization?

• Urbanization refers to the shift in population from rural to urban areas.

• Urban areas grow as they attract people for jobs, education, services, and social opportunities.

Site vs. Situation

Origins of Urbanization

1. Early humans were nomadic.

2. Farming led to settled villages, especially in fertile river valleys (e.g., Nile, Tigris-Euphrates).

3. Agricultural surplus allowed job specialization.

4. Settlements grew and formed into early cities.

5. Cities became centers of trade, religion, defense, and government.

First Urban Revolution

• Happened independently in urban hearths: Mesopotamia, Nile Valley, Indus Valley, Huang He (Yellow River), Mesoamerica.

• Required:

  • Agricultural surplus

  • Social stratification (wealth, jobs, power distribution)

Diffusion of Urbanization

• Cities developed independently in different hearths.

• Empires (e.g., Roman, Greek) spread urban ideas like architecture, roads, aqueducts.

• Urbanization diffused through colonization, trade, and conquest.

Factors that Influence Urbanization

Transportation & Communication

• Transportation advancements reshape cities:

  • Streetcar Suburbs: Residents live in suburbs, commute via streetcar.

• Communication innovations (e.g., telegraph) connected cities faster, helping businesses and people interact over distance.

Population Growth & Migration

• Cities grow due to:

  1. Migration from rural to urban areas (often for jobs).

  2. Natural population increase (birth rates > death rates).

Economic Development

• Second Urban Revolution (Industrial Revolution) brought:

  • Job growth in factories

  • Urban land as a valuable commodity

  • Rich moving to suburbs, poor staying in industrial urban centers

• Rise of downtown business districts (CBDs)

Government Policies

• As cities expanded, governments had to manage:

  • Sewage systems

  • Housing regulations

  • Infrastructure development

• Urban redevelopment helped restore declining areas

Case Studies & Examples

Hoop Dreams Documentary (Socioeconomic Stratification)

• Follows two inner-city boys commuting to a suburban school.

• Highlights inequalities in education and opportunity.

• Shows how location and class affect life chances.

China: Rural to Urban Migration

• Massive shift due to economic opportunities in cities.

• Government initially discouraged migration; now urban areas are exploding.

Review Questions

1. What’s the difference between site and situation?

2. What factors led to the first urban settlements?

3. How did transportation influence the layout of cities?

4. How does socioeconomic stratification appear in cities?

5. What are the long-term effects of rural-to-urban migration?

6.2 - Cities Across the World

Learning Objectives

• Understand the differences between megacities and metacities.

• Explain how urbanization affects land use and city form.

• Identify new urban land-use forms like edge cities, boomburbs, and exurbs.

Key Vocabulary

Core Concepts

Metropolises

• Major central cities with dense populations.

• Function as national or regional capitals or economic powerhouses.

• Examples: New York City, London, Beijing.

Megacities vs. Metacities

Impacts of Suburbanization & Urban Sprawl

• Suburbanization = People move to outskirts for more space, safety, or affordability.

• Urban Sprawl = Cities grow outward without planning, leading to:

  • Increased reliance on cars

  • Environmental degradation

  • Loss of farmland and open space

• Decentralization = City functions move outwards (malls, jobs, industries), often enabled by highways and telecommunications.

New Urban Land Use Forms

Edge Cities

• Developed in the late 20th century.

• Located near highways and major roads.

• Contain more jobs than homes.

• Become destinations for business, shopping, and entertainment.

5 Characteristics of Edge Cities:

1. Over 5 million sq ft of office space.

2. Over 600,000 sq ft of retail space.

3. Daytime population > nighttime population (commuters).

4. Seen as an end-destination.

5. Were not cities a few decades ago.

Case Study: Tysons, Virginia

• Built near major highways.

• Grew rapidly with retail (Tysons Corner Center) and office parks.

• Mall developers chose the site due to transportation access and available land.

Boomburbs

• Rapidly growing suburban cities.

• Often found in Sunbelt states like Texas, Arizona, Florida.

• Appear suburban but have city-like populations (100,000+).

• Often lack a traditional downtown.

Exurbs

• Located beyond suburbs—more rural and spacious.

• Inhabited by affluent families seeking quiet lifestyles.

• May be near beaches, mountains, or farmland.

• Less walkable, lower population density.

Patterns & Challenges of Modern Urbanization

Review Questions

1. What’s the difference between a megacity and a metacity?

2. How does suburbanization differ from urban sprawl?

3. What are the five characteristics of an edge city?

4. Why do boomburbs challenge traditional definitions of suburban areas?

5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of exurban living?

6.3 - Cities and Globalization

Learning Objectives

• Understand the role of world cities in globalization.

• Identify the networks and linkages that connect cities worldwide.

• Explain how cities mediate global processes.

Key Vocabulary

Core Concepts

What is a World City?

• A world city is a global hub of economic, political, and cultural influence.

• They are centers of decision-making in the global economy.

• Influence extends beyond national borders.

Examples of World Cities

Global Networks and Linkages

1. Transportation Services

• Allow people, goods, and services to move globally.

• Examples:

  • Airports (e.g., Heathrow, JFK, Tokyo Haneda)

  • Seaports (e.g., Port of Shanghai, Rotterdam)

  • Subway & rail systems

  • Highways & bridges

2. Communication Systems

• Enable real-time connection between cities and markets.

• Support global trade, diplomacy, media, and finance.

• Examples:

  • International news agencies (BBC, CNN, Reuters)

  • Telecommunication infrastructure (5G networks, fiber optics)

  • Social media platforms and internet providers

3. Business Services

• Found in most world cities and include:

  • Corporate headquarters (Google in NYC, HSBC in London)

  • Financial institutions (stock exchanges, investment banks)

  • International organizations:

    • WHO – Geneva

    • UNESCO – Paris

Functions of World Cities

Case Study Assignment – Research a World City

Use this framework to analyze a world city of your choice:

Quick Review Questions

1. What defines a world city?

2. Name three key services found in a world city.

3. How do communication systems help globalization?

4. Why is transportation critical to a city’s global role?

5. What distinguishes a world city from a regular metropolis?