Questions and Answers
What are rural settlements either?
What is a clustered rural settlement?
An agricultural based community in which a number of families live in close proximity to each other, with fields surrounding the collection of houses and farm buildings.
What characterizes a dispersed rural settlement?
Farmers living on individual farms isolated from neighbors.
Factors such as population levels, gender divisions of labor, and technology affect why each particular settlement is distributed. They are called __________.
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What does a clustered rural settlement typically look like?
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What was the enclosure movement?
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What are the earliest settlements known as?
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What did early consumer services need priests for?
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What did early business services trade?
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Who provided early public services?
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What is urbanization?
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Urban areas are separated from rural areas through three factors: large size, high population density, and __________.
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What are the two dimensions of urbanization?
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What defines a megacity?
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What is a metacity?
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What are megalopolises?
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Clustered rural settlements are often arranged in __________ or __________ patterns.
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What local characteristics arrange homes and fields in a clustered rural settlement?
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What does a circular clustered rural settlement consist of?
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How are linear rural settlements characterized?
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Why were some clustered settlements converted to dispersed settlements?
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What kind of services were established in settlements under Roman rule?
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After the collapse of the Roman Empire, where were most of the world's largest urban settlements clustered?
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What is specialization in the context of urban settlements?
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How has modern technology affected urban and rural lifestyles in developed countries?
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What does the percentage of people living in urban settlements reflect?
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Why is a higher percentage of urban residents observed in developed countries?
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Study Notes
Clustering and Dispersion in Rural Settlements
- Rural settlements can either be clustered or dispersed, defining the arrangement of homes and agricultural land.
Clustered Rural Settlement
- Defined as an agricultural community where multiple families live close together, surrounded by fields.
- Circular and linear patterns are common in clustered settlements; circular features a central open space, while linear is aligned along roads, rivers, or dikes for better communication.
Dispersed Rural Settlement
- Characterized by farmers residing on isolated farms, which leads to a distance between neighbors.
Factors Influencing Settlement Distribution
- Population levels, gender divisions of labor, and technology play critical roles in determining settlement patterns.
Historical Developments
- The enclosure movement in Europe consolidated small individual landholdings into larger farms for farming efficiency.
- Early settlements emerged in regions like the Fertile Crescent, with individual hearths noted in Latin America, South and East Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Early Services in Settlements
- The need for priests to perform burial rites led to the construction of holy buildings, establishing early consumer services.
- Trading of goods like plants and tools occurred in urban settings, reflecting early business services.
- Political leadership and defense organizations marked the formation of early public services.
Urbanization
- Described as the growth of urban settlement populations, it consists of two dimensions: an increase in the percentage of urban residents and the absolute number of people living in urban areas.
Urban Area Characteristics
- Urban areas differ from rural areas based on size, high population density, and social heterogeneity, each influencing social dynamics and behaviors.
Megacities and Beyond
- Megacities are defined as urban areas with populations exceeding 10 million.
- Metacities have populations over 20 million, while megalopolises refer to interconnected cities.
Settlement Characteristics
- Clustered rural settlements reflect local cultural and physical features in their arrangement of homes and fields.
Agricultural Efficiency
- Some clustered rural settlements in Europe transitioned to dispersed patterns to enhance agricultural efficiency.
Public Service Development
- Under Roman rule, settlements were developed as centers for administrative, military, and public services in Europe and Southwest Asia & North Africa.
Global Urban Trends
- Post-Roman Empire, major urban centers primarily emerged in China, showcasing shifts in global urbanization patterns.
Specialization Impact
- Urban areas thrive on specialization, allowing a large population to be sustainably supported through focused economic activities.
Economic Structure and Development
- The percentage of urban populations signifies a country's level of development and reflects changes in economic structure.
- In developed countries, urban and rural lifestyles have become increasingly similar due to universal access to modern transportation and communication technologies.
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Description
Explore the concepts of clustered and dispersed rural settlements. This quiz covers the characteristics, influences, and historical developments of these settlement patterns. Test your understanding of how factors like technology and population affect rural living arrangements.