Urban Planning

Chapter-1

Evolution, Origins and Growth of Settlements;

A settlement conventionally includes its constructed facilities such as roads, enclosures, field
systems, boundary banks and ditches, ponds, parks and woods, wind and water mills, manor
houses, moats and churches. The oldest remains that have been found of constructed dwellings are
remains of huts that were made of mud and branches around 17,000 BC at the Ohalo site (now
underwater) near the edge of the Sea of Galilee. The Natufians (12000 to 9500BC) built houses, also in
the Levant, around 10,000 BC. Remains of settlements such as villages become much more common
after the invention of agriculture. ( Ref: Wikipedia)

Historically, natural factors played an important role in the development and growth of settlements.
Initially, people gathered in caves for protection against the elements, or defense against rival tribes. The
danger of fire, flood, extreme climatic conditions, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, lack of natural
resources or fertile soils etc., influenced the decisions either to settle in a given place or move to more
favorable site. 1(Ref; Urban Pattern by Gallion)

When Neolithic man formed the friendly groups, he had his own settlement. These settlements were first
formed as villages and located on elevated terrain, islands, peninsulas which offered natural protection
and they were surrounded by barricades and moats. “Safety” was the prime consideration for them. For
each village there was a chieftain who protected the group from the enemies. The villages were provided
with a place of worship, a meeting place for assembly and a center for trade. The settlement became
popular and urbanization began; due to rivalry, villages came under the domination of victorious leaders.
Their position depended upon their domination. Thus they rose to become kings and emperors. The seat
of kings and emperors became prominent and developed into cities. 2 (Human Settlements by
Thooyavan).

When ancient men developed the art of town building, they selected sites for towns near to the work
fields, i.e. fertile agriculture lands along the river valleys. That is why the earliest civilizations were all
developed by people who lived along river valleys. 2(Human Settlements by Thooyavan).
 Major changes in human settlements occurred because of adaption of climate. People
started growing plants and domesticating animals for food and survival. The growing of grain began in
Southern Egypt and by 8000BC agriculture was established along river valleys of Nile, Tigris and
Euphrates. Slowly the pattern of human activity changed. Further, it resulted in growth of towns and
cities with complex social organization. Large permanent human settlements appeared around 8000BC.
( 3Urban Planning by Pratap Rao)
Assignment Questions:
Q1 a) what factors were responsible for birth of earliest Settlements?
Historically, natural factors played an important role in the development and growth of settlements.
Initially, people gathered in caves for protection against the elements, or defense against rival tribes. The
danger of fire, flood, extreme climatic conditions, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, lack of natural
resources or fertile soils etc., influenced the decisions either to settle in a given place or move to more
favorable site.
It has been observed that in the early days most of the civilizations have sprung up on the banks of
navigable river or at any natural port which not only provided security to the town but also acted as a
communication links from one civilization to another. Thus physical safety and communication links are
prime factors which gradually lead to the development of the settlements.
Following Factors responsible for the development of early settlements to present day are as under:
1) GEOGRAPHICAL FACTORS which includes:
a) Earthquakes and floods
b) Land Characteristics, fertility etc
c) Water availability, climate, weather etc
d) Resources
2) ECONOMIC ASPECTS which includes
(a) The Production System like
I) Agriculture
II) Industry
III) Trade & Commerce
(b) The economic leadership
3) POLITICAL ASPECTS which includes:
a) Defense Considerations
b) Administration
4) SOCIO-CULTURAL ASPECTS which include;
a) Castes, class distinction,
b) The poor and captives
c) Mysticism
d) Cultural Patterns
e) Social Grouping
5) TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS which includes;
a) Influence in industrial production
 b) Building and construction works
c) Transportation within the settlements and beyond
d) Utilities and services
(Reference Book: Text book of Town planning by Abir Bandopadhyay)

Question: Q1 b) Elaborate on Evolution, origin and growth of settlements

When Neolithic man formed the friendly groups, he had his own settlement. These settlements were first
formed as villages and located on elevated terrain, islands, peninsulas which offered natural protection
and they were surrounded by barricades and moats. “Safety” was the prime consideration for them. For
each village there was a chieftain who protected the group from the enemies. The villages were provided
with a place of worship, a meeting place for assembly and a center for trade. The settlement became
popular and urbanization began; due to rivalry, villages came under the domination of victorious leaders.
Their position depended upon their domination. Thus they rose to become kings and emperors. The seat
of kings and emperors became prominent and developed into cities.

Major changes in human settlements occurred because of adaption of climate. People started
growing plants and domesticating animals for food and survival. The growing of grain began in
Southern Egypt and by 8000BC agriculture was established along river valleys of Nile, Tigris and
Euphrates. Slowly the pattern of human activity changed. Further, it resulted in growth of towns and
cities with complex social organization. Large permanent human settlements appeared around 8000BC.

When ancient men developed the art of town building, they selected sites for towns near to the work
fields, i.e. fertile agriculture lands along the river valleys. That is why the earliest civilizations were all
developed by people who lived along river valleys. The Important river valley civilizations are;

Nile Valley Civilization in Egypt

Indus Valley Civilization in India and Pakistan
Euphrates and Tigris Valley Civilization in Mesopotamia
Yellow River valley Civilization in China
Q2) Differentiate between the Characteristics of Urban Settlement and that of
rural settlement.

Comparison of Urban & Rural settlements are as under:

Particulars Urban Rural

Meaning A settlement where the population is very high and An area located in the outskirts,
is known as rural.
has the features of a built environment, is known as
urban
Includes Cities and towns Villages and hamlet
Life Fast and complicated Simple and relaxed
Environment Greater isolation from nature Direct contact with nature.
Associated Non-agricultural work, i.e. trade, commerce or Agriculture and livestock.
with provision of services.
Population Densely populated Sparsely populated
size
Development Planned settlement exists in urban areas, that are Developed randomly, based on
developed according to the process of urbanization availability of natural vegetation
and industrialization. and fauna in the area.
Social Highly intensive Less intensive
mobility
Division of Always present at the time of job allotment No such division
labor

OR
The fundamental differences between urban and rural are discussed in the following points:

1. A settlement where the population is very high and has the features of a built
environment (an environment that provides basic facilities for human activity), is
known as urban. Rural is the geographical region located in the outer parts of the cities
or towns.
2. The life in urban areas is fast and complicated, whereas rural life is simple and relaxed.
3. The Urban settlement includes cities and towns. On the other hand, the rural settlement
includes villages and hamlets.
 4. There is greater isolation from nature in urban areas, due to the existence of the built
environment. Conversely, rural areas are in direct contact with nature, as natural
elements influence them.
5. Urban people are engaged in non-agricultural work, i.e. trade, commerce or service
industry. In contrast, the primary occupation of rural people is agriculture and animal
husbandry.
6. Population wise, urban areas are densely populated, which is based on the urbanisation,
i.e. the higher the urbanisation, the higher is the population. On the contrary, the rural
population is sparse, which has an inverse relationship with agriculturism.
7. Urban areas are developed in a planned and systematic way, according to the process of
urbanisation and industrialisation. Development in rural areas is seldom, based on the
availability of natural vegetation and fauna in the region.
8. When it comes to social mobilisation, urban people are highly intensive as they change
their occupation or residence frequently in search of better opportunities. However, in
rural areas occupational or territorial mobility of the people is relatively less intensive.
9. Division of labour and specialisation is always present in the urban settlement at the
time of job allotment. As opposed to rural areas, there is no division of labour.

( Ref: https://keydifferences.com/difference-between-urban-and-rural.html)
Q3) what is urban form? Discuss in detail the impact of Natural & Man made
interventions on urban form.
The term “urban form” is used to describe a city’s physical characteristics. It refers to the size,
shape, and configuration of an urban area or its parts. How it will be understood, structured, or
analyzed depends on scale. Characteristics of the urban form range from, at a very localized scale,
features such as building materials, facades, and fenestration to, at a broader scale, housing type, street
type, and their spatial arrangement or layout. The concept of urban form encompasses also
nonphysical aspects such as density.

( Ref: https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-3-319-71063-1_78-1)