What factors influence urban cities?
The greatest challenge in the pattern of human settlement over the last 100 years has been the massive migration of people to cities. This has resulted in a rapid increase of both the number and size of cities. Today’s lesson will look at the history of urban settlements, urban land use models and issues associated with urban sprawl.
Most modern cities have tended to follow the design of earlier settlements by having a commercial and administrative functions at the centre, and industrial and residential functions further out. Geographers have developed models to show the spatial layout of the many existing urban functions. These differing models, as well as a number of important terms are provided in detail in the keynote presentation on studywiz.
Following this keynote, you need to complete the following tasks to make up your notes on urban settlements.
Task 1
Read the handout – The History of Settlements - and answer the following questions:
a) What were the geographic characteristics of ancient cities?
b) Why did many of the first cities lack food resources?
c) How did limited transport restrict urban growth?
d) Why did urbanisation begin in approximately 1000 BC?
e) Why was Rome considered an example of great urban planning? What facilities and infrastructure did they introduce to the city?
f) What occurred in the 1800′s that caused further urbanisation?
g) What is industrial agglomeration and how did it change European cities?
h) When did Australia experience significant urban growth? Why was this?
Task 2
Research one of the major urban centres in either ancient or medieval times. Examples could include Rome, London, Pompeii, Tokyo, Mesopotamia, Cairo etc. Put together 5 slides on a keynote or iMovie showing the development of this city. Include information such as when it began, why it grew, what urban planning and infrastructure was introduced and if it declined, why? You must include images and limit your text to 200 characters per slide. These are to be submitted to me by the end of the lesson.
Task 3 – Urban Sprawl
The following factors influence the spread of urban sprawl in Australia. These include:
- Cost of land
- Desire to live in low density housing
- Transport
- Safety
- Population
- Development and marketing practice
- Government Policies
a) Read the handout provided and take notes on each of these factors.
b) Complete Questions 1-5 of Exercise 4.4 on page 161.
c) Urban sprawl can have a number of environmental, economic, social, and political impacts on an urban area. Read the information in the articles below and complete the table provided on studywiz with as much detail as possible. Include specific costs etc in the table. Your table should be specific to Melbourne. This task is very important as you will be required to write an extended response article on Urban Sprawl in your next test.
The Australian – Towns Disappear as Urban Sprawl Grows
The Age – Urban Sprawl is Killing Us, but there’s another way