UNIT 4: MODERN DAY

CITIES

WHAT WE ARE GOING

TO STUDY
PROCESS OF
URBANIZATION

THE MODERN
CITY

CONSEQUENCES OF
URBAN GROWTH

INTERNAL
STRUCTURES
OF CITIES

DISTRIBUTION
OF CITIES

SPANISH CITIES AND

URBANIZATION
STRUCTURE AND
DISTRIBUTION OF
SPANISH CITIES

WHERE ARE PEOPLE LIVING?

CITIES IN THE PAST: THE PRE-INDUSTRIAL CITY

Prior to 1780 cities were small political and religious centers
of administration with markets and craft industries
During the 15th

and 16th centuries,

geographical
discoveries by
Europeans and
colonization spread
models of European
cities throughout
America and Africa
Monarchs, during
the 17th century,
demonstrated their
power through
embellishing cities
and modernized the
infrastructure

First cities developed

about 7,500 years ago on
the banks of major rivers:
Ur Tigris
Sumer Euphrates
Memphis and Thebes
Nile
Mohenjo-Daris Indus
Urbanization spread
throughout Mediterranean
after first millennium BCE
due to Greek colonization
and Roman Empire
expansion
Cities declined after the
crisis of the 3rd century in
the Roman Empire

After the 12th century

CE a resurgence in
European cities occurred
during the Middle Ages due
to increased trade
Muslim cities developed
and prospered during this
time period

CITIES IN THE PAST: THE INDUSTRIAL CITY

Between 1780 and 1950 of current developed countries grew
very rapidly
The First Industrial
Revolution began in the
middle of the 18th
century bringing modern
industry and many
migrants from the
countryside
Ancient city walls
were torn down to
create new districts.
Areas for the wealthy
middle class and the
poor working class were
developed

The Second Industrial

Revolution began
around 1870
consolidating the
process of urbanization
Cities grew and
developed their
infrastructure, such as
street lighting and
transportation which
facilitated mobility and
expansion

THE MODERN CITY

RECENT URBAN GROWTH: Between 1950 and 1975 urban

populations exploded although not at the same time in every country

DEVELOPED COUNTRIES: Reached maximum growth between 1950 and 1960
primarily due to post-war economic boom and rural exodus

DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: Urban growth began later but it has been

enormous. Urban populations have grown very rapidly primarily due to
advances in medicine and massive rural exodus.

THE MODERN CITY URBAN POPULATIONS

CONTINENTS: Highest levels of urbanization (2007) found on
most developed continents (N. America, Europe and Oceania).
Latin America is an exception. Lowest levels in Africa and Asia

GROUPS OF
COUNTRIES:
27.7% Urban
population in
developed
countries 72.3%
in developing
countries

COUNTRIES: Highest absolute figures are concentrated in

a few countries, mostly in developing or emerging
countries: China, India, U.S.A., Bangladesh, Indonesia,
Nigeria and Pakistan

URBAN POPULATION GROWTH RATES PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

1950 White

1990 Light Green

2025 Dark Green

CONSEQUENCES OF URBAN GROWTH

PRESENT-DAY URBAN GROWTH: The number of MEGACITIES (>5
million inhabitants) has risen dramatically, from 7 in 1950 to
48 in 2010. 36 are located in developing countries.