Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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Developed countries reached their maximum growth between 1950 and 1960 and
this was due mainly to the post-war economic boom and rural exodus.
Although urban in developing began later, Was enormous, Tllis Was populations Very
rapidly in general, health care improved, and there was rural exodus on a massive scale.
2.2. The distribution of urban populations
There are ditferent ways to look at the distribution of the urban population:
By continents, the of urbanisation, in 2007, could be the three most as well in Latin
which is exception as it is relatively undeveloped. The Lowest levels were found in
Africa and Asia, the least developed continents.
By countries, the highest absolute figures are concentrated in just a few countries,
all of arc developing or emerging: China, India, United States, Bangladesh, Nigeria
and Pakistan, all of them, except the United States, considerable growth of the
urban population is expected between 2007 and 2050.
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area, and the satellite cities provide workforce, and housing, industries, areas, p.e. Paris
and London
A conurbation is a continuous urban area which has been formed by the parallel growth
or two or more cities of Similar importance which have joined together. For the
Rotterdam-ArriSterdarn conurbation in the Netherlands, Liverpool-Manchester. in
England,
An region is urban a regional it is formed by the growth Of Cities Which are separate
but sufficiently close to each Other so the entire area has urban characteristics, for
example the Ruhr Region in Germany .
A megalopolis is a supraregional urban area composed of a succession of different
types of urban agglomerations. The two most important can be found in the United
States and Japan
4. THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF CITIES AND THEIR INEQUALITIES
4.1 Different parts of urban areas
The urban centre is one of the most important areas of a city. In European cities is
usually of the historic centre or In the United States, it is known as downtown.
this area may include the business Centre, known as the Central Business District
(CBD) or the City where shops, offices, company headquarters. and financial.
Centres are located.
Residential areas divided into different districts or on the qua neighbourhoods, the
type the neighbourhoods depends of buildings and the facilities available to the
people living there, are often classified according to the social status of the
residents. Upper, middle or working class. When they lace even the most basic
amenities. they are known as slums or shanty towns.
The outskirts of a city is the area around the outer limits of the city It contains a
variety of different areas including: residential, industrial, Other services (e.g.
shopping centres, schools, hospitals, airports, sports centres), The outskirts Often
With areas,.
Social Cultural European cities, for example, are normally divided into three areas.
the historic centre; century residential areas which include middleclass and former
working class neighbourhoods; and the more recent outskirts.
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Latin American cities are characterised by the contrast between the centre, which
has buildings and luxurious neighbourhoods, and extensive outskirts, Which are
organised Often made up of shanty towns.
important
having
large
number
and
range
of
services.
onwards Christian cities Spread along Way of st James and in land conquered from
Muslims. These cities contained churches and
protective walls.
In the Modern Age Some Cities grew such as Madrid, Which Was chosen as the capital,
and Sevilla which controlled trade With America. The Cities of the interior lost
importance in favour of those of the coast Industrial urbanisation.
6.2. Industrial urbanisation
In the 19th century, the provincial capitals which were chosen in 1833, grew, as well as
cites, such as Barcelona, Bilbao and Madrid wich had modern industry As a result,
many of the old city walls were torn down and new middle-class and Working-class
districts were created.
Between 1950 and 1980, urban growth accelerated, due to the of industry, Themost
important cities were Surrounded by extensive outskirt containing industrial and
Working-Class neighbourhoods built to the large of people migrating from the
countryside.
Historic centre
The historic centre is at the core' of the majority of Spanish cities. It contains the main
historic buildings: palaces, churches, cathedral, etc. Some of them have been declared
world heritage sites by UNESCO. This area used to be Surrounded by Walls and it had
an irregular layout, With low residential, craft and commercial buildings. Over time. this
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centre more densely populated; the buildings were renovated gaining height, and the
area became the commercial and business centre.
Area of expansion
Between the middle of the 19th century and the first third of the 20 th century,
industrialisation began. Old city walls were torn down to construct new districts the
middle class and the working class. The middle class expansions used a grid plan With
high-quality buildings. In time, Shops, Other services were Set up in these areas,
working Class had disorganised layouts and cramped", cheap buildings which
deteriorated rapidly.
This is the most recent area Of growth in cities, Different areas are characterised by the
use of the land:
Residential areas or neighbourhoods are classified according to the social Of
their inhabitants.
Industrial and service areas contain industrial estates, technology
Parks and different urban services, such as shopping Centres, hospitals, universities,
sports centres, etc.
7.2. The urban network
Spanish cities form an urban network. Each city has a higher or
lower position
depending on the size of its population, the functions it performs and the size of its
sphere of influence. The Spanish network is characterised by its radial pattern'. In the
interior there are Very few large Cities, With the Of Madrid. which is the countrys
leading City and a global City,
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