Human Settlements in Space: Urban and Rural Development

Human Settlements in Space

Types of Settlements

Human settlements in space can be categorized into two main types: rural and urban. These differ in their size, characteristics, and predominant economic activities.

Rural Settlements

Rural settlements are typically smaller, including villages and towns, where the primary sector (e.g., agriculture) dominates. Factors influencing the location of rural settlements include physical features like relief, water availability, and soil fertility, as well as historical circumstances and the need to exploit natural resources.

  • Scattered Settlements: Houses are surrounded by farmland, meadows, and forests, separated from other dwellings.
  • Concentrated Settlements: Houses are grouped together to form villages or small towns, separate from the surrounding farmland.

Urban Settlements

Urban settlements are larger and more complex than rural settlements, encompassing cities where secondary (e.g., manufacturing) and tertiary (e.g., services) sectors drive the economy. Cities are characterized by high population density, tall buildings, and a concentration of commercial, industrial, and cultural activities.

Historical Development of Cities

The first cities emerged in Mesopotamia along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. During the classical era, cities spread throughout the Mediterranean, featuring planned layouts like the Greek agora and the Roman Forum. In the Middle Ages, European cities grew thanks to trade, while Muslim cities also flourished. These cities were often walled and had irregular layouts with designated areas for commercial and craft activities. The Age of Exploration led to urbanization in Africa and America. In the 17th and 18th centuries, European monarchs focused on beautifying cities and improving urban hygiene. The Industrial Revolution (18th century) significantly impacted urban growth, leading to rapid expansion, the emergence of distinct bourgeois and working-class neighborhoods, and changes in the urban landscape.

Urban Planning and Structure

Location refers to the city’s geographical setting. Situation describes the city’s position relative to its surroundings. The urban plan encompasses the arrangement of built and open spaces within the city. Various plan types exist:

  • Irregular Plan: Characterized by narrow, winding streets arranged chaotically around a central core.
  • Grid Plan: Formed by streets intersecting at right angles.
  • Radiocentric Plan: Features radial streets extending from a central point, intersected by concentric rings.

The urban fabric refers to the buildings and their arrangement within the city. Buildings can be separated by open spaces or clustered together. Building types range from individual houses to high-rise structures. Land use refers to the different purposes for which urban land is utilized, including residential, industrial, and service-oriented uses.

Urban Zones and Functions

The urban center is a hub for commercial and business activities, including shopping malls, financial institutions, leisure facilities, and corporate offices. It is characterized by high accessibility, daytime concentration of people and vehicles, low resident population, high building density and height, and limited industrial activity.

Residential areas typically surround the urban center, forming a belt of high-density neighborhoods. Suburbs are newer residential areas located on the outskirts of the city, often including industrial facilities.

Urban functions encompass the various activities carried out within a city:

  • Politico-military: Government administration and defense.
  • Economic: Industrial production and service provision, including trade, banking, and business.
  • Cultural: Academic, religious, recreational, entertainment, and tourism activities.

Urban Networks and Hierarchy

Cities form networks, with urban centers acting as nodes. These networks are hierarchical:

  • Global Cities: Leading international centers with advanced functions, influencing the world and interconnected through transport and communication networks.
  • National Metropolis: Leading cities within a country, concentrating national functions and connecting with global cities.
  • Regional Metropolis: Leading cities within a region, with less specialized functions and connecting with the national metropolis.
  • Small and Medium Cities: Occupying lower levels of the hierarchy, serving subregional or regional areas and connecting with regional metropolis.

The catchment area refers to the geographical area served by a particular urban center.