Why Settlements Arise
While building a home we check water, safety and livelihood nearby. Early people did the same.
Human settlements flourished where geography was favourable: water, suitable climate and fertile land. Settlements whose main occupations depend on natural resources are rural settlements.
Key idea 1 : Favourable conditions — Settlements grew where water, favourable climate and fertile land were available. People’s occupations in early settlements depended on local natural resources, so separate settlements of people with one occupation arose.
Key idea 2 : Settlements by occupation — People on the sea coast fish and their settlements became koliwadas. Forest-dwelling tribes live on forest produce and their settlements are tribal hamlets (padas). Farming happens on fertile land and farmer families build houses in or near their fields. Such settlements slowly grow.
Key idea 3 : Rural settlement — A settlement where most people’s original occupations depend on natural resources is rural; farming and fishing are examples. In human history rural settlement was the first step towards stable life. A particular way of life is preserved in it and cities get their daily food from villages.
- Easy : Fishers’ settlement? — Koliwada.
- Medium : Forest tribes’ settlement? — Pada.
- Exam-type : Cities’ food comes from? — Rural settlements.
In the figure: Settlement in favourable conditions.
Water + land + climate = settlement.
Settlements differ by occupation.
Memory clue: Koliwada = fishing; pada = forest.
Spot the difference
| Settlement | Occupation | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Koliwada | Fishing | Coast |
| Tribal pada | Forest produce | Forest |
| Farm settlement | Farming | Fertile land |
Practice questions
- 1Where did human settlements grow?
- 2What is a koliwada?
- 3What is a tribal pada?
- 4What is a rural settlement?
- 5Why do farmers build homes near fields?
- 6How is rural settlement the first step to stable life?
- 7Who supplies food to cities?
- 8Why did separate settlements of one occupation arise?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Where water, climate and fertile land exist.
- 2A fishers’ settlement on the coast.
- 3Settlement of forest tribes.
- 4Settlement with resource-based occupations.
- 5It saves time and money.
- 6People settled at one place.
- 7Rural settlements.
- 8Due to dependence on local resources.
From Rural to Urban Settlements
When shops, schools and clinics grow in a village, people from nearby move in and the village slowly becomes a town.
When secondary and tertiary occupations grow in a village the share of people in primary occupations falls and a rural settlement turns urban. A very large urban area becomes a metropolitan city.
Key idea 1 : Process of change — With time allied occupations grow in a rural settlement. People from around migrate in and the population grows. Houses are built and facilities develop for the growing population. Secondary and tertiary occupations gain importance, the share of primary occupations falls and the settlement turns urban.
Key idea 2 : Causes of urbanisation — Religious, historical, commercial, educational and administrative reasons and tourism can turn the original settlement urban. If population and facilities grow on a large scale the urban area becomes a metropolis. Urban life is more dynamic and rural and urban settlements have strong economic links.
Key idea 3 : Modernisation — Science and technology advanced house-building and led to skyscrapers. Modernisation transforms both rural and urban settlements. Check what type your own settlement is and name the metropolitan cities of India.
- Easy : Which occupations turn a village urban? — Secondary, tertiary.
- Medium : One cause of urbanisation? — Education/trade/tourism.
- Exam-type : Largest urban area? — Metropolis.
In the figure: Rural to metropolis.
Primary down, secondary-tertiary up = urban.
A rural settlement does not stay small; it can grow urban.
Memory clue: Village → town → metropolis.
Spot the difference
| Point | Rural | Urban |
|---|---|---|
| Main occupation | Primary | Secondary, tertiary |
| Life | Stable | Dynamic |
| Food | Supplies | Demands |
Practice questions
- 1How does a rural settlement turn urban?
- 2State the causes of urbanisation.
- 3How does a metropolis form?
- 4Differentiate rural and urban settlements.
- 5Why is urban life more dynamic?
- 6What are the economic links between them?
- 7Name two metropolitan cities of India.
- 8What effect does modernisation have?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1As secondary-tertiary occupations grow and people migrate.
- 2Religious, historical, commercial, educational, administrative, tourism.
- 3When population and facilities grow greatly.
- 4Rural primary; urban secondary-tertiary.
- 5There is more economic exchange.
- 6Villages supply food; cities give markets.
- 7Mumbai, Delhi (e.g.).
- 8Both types change.
Scattered and Nucleated Settlements
In some villages houses stand far apart in fields while in others they are packed close. This is the settlement pattern.
Few houses far apart make a scattered settlement; houses close together make a nucleated settlement.
Key idea 1 : Scattered settlement — Houses are few and far apart. Found in high-relief areas, dense forests, grasslands, hot deserts and extensive farmlands. Limited population (pada, wadi), inadequate facilities, pollution-free as close to nature; depend on a central village for daily needs.
Key idea 2 : Nucleated settlement — Houses stand close together. Found near water sources such as streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Fertile plains, transport hubs, mining and commercial centres, defence, health, education and social-religious reasons also give rise to it. Social services are available, roads in old parts are narrow and people of different castes and religions live together giving a richer social life.
Key idea 3 : Comparison — In scattered settlements the gap between houses is obvious; in nucleated ones houses are dense. Scattered ones have fewer facilities and cleaner air; nucleated ones more facilities but crowding. In Rajasthan’s deserts nucleated settlements occur near assured water sources.
- Easy : Houses far apart? — Scattered.
- Medium : Dense houses by a river? — Nucleated.
- Exam-type : Desert nucleated settlement is? — Near water.
In the figure: Scattered and nucleated.
As per the textbook nucleated settlements occur near assured water sources in the Rajasthan desert. (as per the textbook)
Scattered = far; nucleated = close + water.
Scattered does not mean undeveloped; it is close to nature and pollution-free.
Memory clue: Far = scattered; near = nucleated.
Spot the difference
| Point | Scattered | Nucleated |
|---|---|---|
| Houses | Few, far | Dense, near |
| Facilities | Inadequate | Available |
| Location | Forest, desert, large farm | Near water, hubs |
Practice questions
- 1What is a scattered settlement?
- 2What is a nucleated settlement?
- 3Where are scattered settlements found?
- 4What causes nucleated settlements to develop?
- 5Write the difference between the two types.
- 6Why are scattered settlements pollution-free?
- 7Why is social life richer in nucleated settlements?
- 8Which type do pada and wadi belong to?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Few houses far apart.
- 2Houses close together.
- 3High relief, forest, grassland, desert, large farms.
- 4Water, fertile plains, transport, mining, trade, defence etc.
- 5Far/near houses; fewer/more facilities.
- 6Because they are close to nature.
- 7People of varied backgrounds live together.
- 8Scattered settlement.
Linear Settlements and Factors of Location
Rows of shops and houses line both sides of a highway. Such a settlement grows along the road.
A settlement spread in a line along roads, railways, rivers, the coast or foothills is a linear settlement. Physical, cultural and economic factors influence settlement location.
Key idea 1 : Linear settlement — This settlement is narrow and spreads in a straight line. Houses stand in a single row; if it grows several rows form and roads run parallel. Some shops stand among the houses. In India such settlements are found along coasts, major rivers and national and state highways.
Key idea 2 : Factors of location — Physical factors: physiography, land and soils, climate, water supply, river banks. Cultural factors: defence, health, education, tourism, historical significance. Economic factors: irrigation, occupations, transport and communication, industries, trade, government offices.
Key idea 3 : Telling the three patterns apart — Houses in a line along a road mean linear; dense and together mean nucleated; far apart mean scattered. A family living on the farm saves time and money; houses too close can be a health problem. For security a nucleated settlement is better.
- Easy : Settlement by a highway? — Linear.
- Medium : Water supply is which factor? — Physical.
- Exam-type : Defence is which factor? — Cultural.
In the figure: Factors influencing location.
Physical-Cultural-Economic = P-C-E.
Linear settlements are not only on rivers; also along roads and rails.
Memory clue: Houses in a row = linear.
Spot the difference
| Factor | Example 1 | Example 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Physical | Climate | Water supply |
| Cultural | Education | Defence |
| Economic | Industries | Transport |
Practice questions
- 1What is a linear settlement?
- 2State the features of linear settlement.
- 3Where are linear settlements found?
- 4State factors affecting settlement location.
- 5State the difference between physical and cultural factors.
- 6Why do shops grow along highways?
- 7Compare the three patterns.
- 8What type is your settlement? Give reasons.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1A settlement spread along a line.
- 2Single row of houses, parallel roads, shops.
- 3Highways, railways, rivers, coast, foothills.
- 4Physical, cultural, economic.
- 5Physical = nature; cultural = society.
- 6Traffic brings customers.
- 7Linear row, nucleated dense, scattered far.
- 8Answer from your own observation.