What are the different types of settlement? (p. 78 - 79)

• Humanities
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

Where do we live?

Statement of Inquiry: Settlements develop and change due to a variety of processes and their sustainability allows them to function successfully, affecting the identity of that location.

Key Concept: Change

Related Concepts: Processes; Sustainability

Global Context: Identities and relationships 

What are different types of settlement?

There ar six levels in the settlement hierarchy.

1. Megacity
2. City
3. Town (small/large)
4. Village
5. Hamlet 
6. Isolated dwelling 

Rule of thumb: Increase in settlement size means decrease in frequency. 

What are different types of settlement?

Hamlet 

• very small settlement 
• population around 100
• mostly in rural areas 

Isolated dwelling

• single house
• personal choice 
• mostly in rural areas

Rural

In general, a rural area or countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities.

What are different types of settlement?

Town

• thousands of residents
• government building and emergency services 
• urban settlements 

Village

• quite a few houses
• shops, parks religious building
• between rural and urban areas

Urban

An urban area, or built-up area, is a human settlement with a high population density and a built environment. 

What are different types of settlement?

Megacity 

• more than 10 million residents
• Risk of overpopulation
• Is the Randstad a megacity? 

City

• efficient transport system
• different districts and city centre 
• culture and tourism
• conurbations 

Conurbation

an extended urban area, typically consisting of several towns and cities merging with eachother 

What are different types of settlement?

First a bit of history...

Watch the next video about how cities have grown since the early humans and what the future of cities will be like. 

Answer the questions during the video. 

00:21

What percentage of the world population lives in a city in 2050?

01:00

Why were the first settlements 'semi-permanent'?

01:21

Give one consequence of the food surpluses.

01:52

Why did people move from the countryside to the city?

02:20

Give one reason why the population density of the early big cities is as high as the cities in modern times.

02:43

During the Industrial Revolution (19th century) cities started to expand further. What did cities establish during this period?

03:07

List 3 things what cities need to provide to people in order to grow?

03:42

List three things what cities can do to use the space around them without damaging the land.

Read the text on p. 78

Write down two factors that determine what type of settlements there are.

Take a look at Figure 4.2 in your book in p. 78.

What type of settlement is this?
Why might some people choose to live this type of lifestyle?

Think about where you live.
Check out Figure 4.3 on p. 78

What type of settlement do you live in? Explain why you think that by giving examples.