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UNIT 4: MODERN DAY CITIES

1 THE PROCESS OF URBANISATION.


1.1. The pre-industrial city
First cities arose around 7,500 years ago, on the Of major rivers: Ur on the Tigris and
Sumer on the Euphrates Memphis and Thebes on the Nile and Mohenjo-Daro on the
Indus.
From the first millennium BC, urbanisation spread throughout the Mediterranean
because of Greek colonisation and the expansion of the Roman Empire. However, from
the 3rd century AD, the crisis in the Roman Empire led to the decline of European
cities.
In the Middle Ages, from the 12th century onwards, there was resurgence in European
Christian cities, due 10 an increase in trade. In this period, Muslim cities also
experienced considerable development,
In the Modern Age, during the 15 th and 16th' centuries, geographical discoveries and
colonisation that Cities began to spread through Africa and America. In the 17 th Century.
Monarchs expressed their power by ordering remodeling and embellishing' of cities,
which provided them with squares, gardens, monumental fountains, sewerage networks
and paved streets.
1.2.The industrial city
The First Industrial Revolution begun around 1780, and modern industry carne the
cities, Which attracted many migrants from the countryside, Many Cities tore down' the
ancient City walls to Create new districts. Some were better quality areas far the
wealthy middle class and others were poorer areas for the factory workers.
The Second Industrial Revolution, which began around 1870, consolidated this
process. Cities continued to grow and gained new infrastructure, such as gas or electric
street lighting, and means of transport, such as trams and cars, which facilitated mobility
and urban expansion.
2. THE MODERN CITY
2.1. Recent urban growth
Between 930 and 1975, urban populations grew very rapidly, This process did not take
place in all at same time.

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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 groups Of Countries, developed countries have high levels of urbanisation, but


their represents 27.7% Of the world total. Developing countries, on the other hand,
have lower levels of, but their urban population represents 723% of the world total..

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.

There are also differences in the distribution of urbanisation. In developed countries,


urbanisations can a large area and the Cities and the countryside have on the Other
in developing countries. it is large concentrations and extensive rural areas.

3. THE CONSEQUENCES OF URBAN GROWTH


3.1. The multiplication of large cities
The most spectacular consequence of present-day urban growth is the proliferation
highly populated cities, known as megacities, which have over million The number of
cities rose from 7 to 48 between 1950 2010. 36 Of are located in countries, in Latin
America and Asia. The rest are in developed countries, notably the United States, Japan
and Russia.
3.2. The creation of urban agglomerations
Some cities have grown so much than they have merged with other, nearby population
centres. Creating different types of agglomerations:
A metropolitan area arise When a major city (Central city or with Cities (satellite
Cities), which depend on it. Various economic and social interactions develop between
these cities: the central city provides employment and services to the population in its

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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,.

5.1. Inequalities in urban areas


The Structure of cities depends on their economic,:

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.

5. THE DISTRIBUTION OF CITIES


5.1. Urban networks
Cities form a network of interactions with the surrounding areas and nearby population
Centres. area is known as the sphere of influence.
An network is up of population Centres (node) and lines connecting then together
(axes). the cities in a network are often ordered according ou their importance, with the
most

important

having

large

number

and

range

of

services.

5.2. The global urban hierarchy


The great international metropolises, or global cities, such as New York, London,
Tokyo and Paris, arc al top of urban hierarchy (network), These cities have functions,
the highly-qualified the important political and economic centres. They are cultural
references points and their sphere of influence extends a round the world. They are
closely connected with each other through high-speed transport and information
networks.
Large national metropolises, such as Rome and Moscow, lead the urban networks in
their countries. The most important national functions are carried out there and, their
sphere of influence extends country. They are connected with each other with the
metropolises, they a link the national global networks.
The regional metropolises, Such (Germany), are top of urban network in their regions.
They perform less specialised functions and their influence extends throughout the
region.
Medium-sized small Cities, Cahors (France), perform functions at a Their spheres Of
are sub-regional limited to the county
6. THE PROCESS OF URBANISATION IN SPANISH CITIES
6.1. Pre-industrial urbanisation
The first cities on the peninsula were Greek and Phoenician colonies and appeared in 9 th
century BC. Later, under Roman rule, many Cities were founded both on the coasr and
the interior.
During the Middle Ages Spanish cities were ruled by either Christians or Muslims.
Muslims founded new cities such as Madrid and Murcia and transformed others by
building mosques, souks and making the layouts more irregular. From the 11 th century
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onwards Christian cities Spread along Way of st James and in land conquered from
Muslims. These cities contained churches and

markets and war surrounded by

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.

6.3. Post-industrial urbanisation


Since 1980, industry has become less important and the service industry is growing,
especially in large cities and tourist areas.
Urban growth has slowed down as natural increase and rural exodus have both
decreased. In addition to this, populations in big cities are becoming less concentrated
as increased costs force businesses and to nearby medium-sized. This tendency is
causing urbanisation spread across large areas.
7. STRUCTURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF SPANISH CITIES
7.1. Structure of Spanish cities
Spanish cities can be divided into three areas which developed in different times and
have different forms and functions.

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.

The urban outskirts

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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