Human Geography and Economic Settlements

Human Geography and Economic Settlements

Definition of Human Geography

• Study of the relationship between humans and their environment
• Examines the impact of human activity on the environment and vice versa

Economic Settlements

• A place where people live and work to produce goods and services
• Types of economic settlements:
  • Rural settlements (villages, farms)
  • Urban settlements (cities, towns)
  • Industrial settlements (factories, manufacturing areas)

Factors Influencing Economic Settlements

• Physical factors:
  • Climate
  • Topography
  • Natural resources
• Human factors:
  • Economic systems (e.g. capitalism, socialism)
  • Technological advancements
  • Government policies and regulations

Economic Activities in Settlements

• Primary activities:
  • Agriculture (farming, livestock)
  • Extraction (mining, logging)
• Secondary activities:
  • Manufacturing (processing, production)
  • Construction (building, infrastructure)
• Tertiary activities:
  • Service industry (retail, finance, tourism)
  • Information industry (technology, software)

Urbanization and Economic Development

• Urbanization: the process of people moving from rural areas to cities
• Factors contributing to urbanization:
  • Job opportunities
  • Better access to services and amenities
  • Improved quality of life
• Impact of urbanization on economic development:
  • Increased economic growth and productivity
  • Improved infrastructure and services
  • Challenges such as overcrowding, poverty, and environmental degradation

Globalization and Economic Settlements

• Globalization: the increasing interconnectedness of the world's economies
• Impact of globalization on economic settlements:
  • Increased trade and investment opportunities
  • Job creation and economic growth
  • Challenges such as outsourcing, cultural homogenization, and environmental degradation

Human Geography and Economic Settlements

Definition of Human Geography

• Study of the relationship between humans and their environment
• Examines the impact of human activity on the environment and vice versa

Economic Settlements

• A place where people live and work to produce goods and services
• Types: rural, urban, and industrial settlements

Factors Influencing Economic Settlements

Physical Factors

• Climate affects the type of economic activity
• Topography influences the location and type of settlement
• Natural resources impact the type of economic activity

Human Factors

• Economic systems (e.g. capitalism, socialism) shape economic activity
• Technological advancements influence the type of economic activity
• Government policies and regulations impact economic activity

Economic Activities in Settlements

Primary Activities

• Agriculture: farming, livestock
• Extraction: mining, logging

Secondary Activities

• Manufacturing: processing, production
• Construction: building, infrastructure

Tertiary Activities

• Service industry: retail, finance, tourism
• Information industry: technology, software

Urbanization and Economic Development

Urbanization

• Process of people moving from rural areas to cities
• Factors: job opportunities, better access to services, improved quality of life

Impact of Urbanization

• Increased economic growth and productivity
• Improved infrastructure and services
• Challenges: overcrowding, poverty, environmental degradation

Globalization and Economic Settlements

Globalization

• Increasing interconnectedness of the world's economies
• Impact: increased trade and investment opportunities

Impact of Globalization on Economic Settlements

• Job creation and economic growth
• Challenges: outsourcing, cultural homogenization, environmental degradation