Evolution of Settlements - I

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Origin and Evolution of Human

SettlementsVarious StagesMan as Nomad and Cave Dweller

(Up to 10,000 B. C.)

Earth estimated to be formed about 4 billion years

ago Homo Sapiens (the one existing species of man)

believe to date from about 500,000 B. C.

Earliest man did not settle anywhere as they

wandered around in search of food Did not know how to construct buildings so lived in

the open

Occasionally took shelter on top of trees to protect

themselves from wild animals


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Settlements

Man as Nomad and Cave Dweller

(Up to 10,000 B.C.)

Later man began to live in caves by the side of rivers,lakes and springs

Sites protected by rivers, swamps or elevated terrain

preferred

Caves not used as places for fixed residence When food gathering in the vicinity became difficult,

early man moved to another location.


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Settlements

Towards Settled Habitation(Up to 10,000 B. C. - 5,000 B. C.)

Man learned to practice cultivation

Could stay at one place and produce food

Began to settle down near the fields cultivated bythem

Choose fertile lands and where water was available

in plenty

Learned to build huts and mud houses


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SettlementsTowards Settled Habitation

(Up to 10,000 B. C. - 5,000 B. C.)

Some of the earliest settlements began to take shape Settlements then consisted of groups of houses built

by the side of agricultural fields, a shrine and a burial

ground.

Some inhabitants continued to live in caves andwander around for hunting animals - more as a

pastime rather than as a necessity


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Settlements

The Common Habitat and Onset of Civilisation

Inhabitants organized as a community under a

recognized leader

Began to get the first lessons of civilized living Started learning to provide for themselves the three

basic necessities of life - food, clothing and shelter


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SettlementsShifting Cultivation

Shift to new location after experiencing decrease in

fertility after successive cultivation Later learned that land regained fertility if it is left

uncultivated for few years

Began to cultivate fields by rotation

Thus managed to stop shifting practice and settleddown at on place


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SettlementsFood Surplus

Learned to make manure out of night soil and animal

droppings

Greatly increased food production

As food became abundant, health of people improved

Death rate dropped, birth rate increased and

population of many settlements began to multiplyrapidly through the natural process


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Settlements

Beginning of permanent settlement

Assured food supply through agriculture encouraged

man to permanently settle by the side of the fields hecultivated

Compact settlement since agriculture could support

up to 35 persons per sq. km as compared to 15

persons per sq. km applicable to hunting and foodgathering societies


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SettlementsFavorable Locations for Settlements

Favorable environment for human existence and

survival

Climate not very harsh

Epidemics not frequent

Land fertile

Good quality of water available in plenty River Valleys as popular places for settled habitation


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SettlementsWhy River Valleys

Land was fertile, water and food (fishes and prongs)

extracted from rivers, and soft clay good for

constructing huts River also used later as means of transportation

First settlements in the river valleys of India, China,

Egypt, and areas known as the Fertile Crescent

(modern Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Israel)


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SettlementsOther Factors Considered for Siting Settlements

Took care to locate on higher ground for better

drainage, protection from floods and reasons of

security

Spacing between settlements to leave space for

future expansion


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Community Structuring

Barter System

The most ancient form of trading

Those who were not farmers were supplied food in

exchange of goods they produced

Shepherds got grains in exchange for milk, weaversfor cloth, potters for utensils, and craftsmen for tools

and implements

Initially practiced within the community

Later as river and land routes developed fortransportation, goods began to be exchanged across

communities


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Trading With transportation, reputation of some of the goods

produced by craftsmen of particular villages began to

travel far and wide

As the demand of goods increased, trading of suchgoods began to grow.

Traders emerged as a new class of people, trading

as a new occupation and market place as the new

physical component of settlements.


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Social Stratification

Early traders most probably belonged to the hunting

tribe - people already used to traveling

They were also recognised as leaders as they

provided protection to the community against wildanimals

After they began trading activity,they accumulated

goods and became wealthy

They also accumulated knowledge as they traveledlong distances and met many people

Their hold on the community increased and became

quite powerful. One of them became a chieftain


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Physical StructuringNew Physical Features

The chieftain built for himself a castle which towered

over the other buildings,more so because it was built

at the highest point in the village

The rich traders and wealthy farmers built their

houses near the castle - the new distinguishing

feature and a status symbol

Relatively poor artisans and ordinary peasants

occupied quarters on the periphery

The community was divided between the rich and the

poor and the two social classes occupied different

sections of the settlements


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Physical Structuring

New Physical Features

The rich and the poor gradually grew antagonistic to

each other The rich became concerned about their life and

property Built a wall around their castle and thus created

fortified castle

Man had originally learned to ward of danger from

beasts and wild animals but now was afraid of beingattacked by fellow human beings


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Physical Structuring

The Walled Settlements

The strife between the people of the same settlementlater supplemented by that between the people of

different settlements

The rich settlements were exposed to the danger of

being raided by outsiders

The wall around the settlement was built in addition

to the one already existing around the castle

This effectively curbed physical spread of settlements

People living outside moved in

The density of population began to rise


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New Community StructuringSubjugation of Peasants

The external threat brought forth the necessity ofinternal unity

Need for mutually defending themselves

But the new organization of the community was such

that it resulted in the subjugation and exploitation of alarge majority of peasants by a small minority of the

rich - the so called nobles

The Chieftain claimed a share in the agricultural

surplus in return for the protection provided by him tothe community

Initially it could be described as the beginning of the

taxation system that was perhaps willingly done


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New Community Structuring

Placing more resources at the disposal of the

Chieftain meant better equipped army and betterprotection for the community

Soon the beneficent role of the Chieftain was

corrupted by his lust for power

As his resources increased and he became morepowerful, he began to demand a larger share of the

agricultural surplus

Ultimately leaving barely minimum for the survival of

the peasant and his family Chieftain was supported in his exploitative pursuits by

a large number of military and army officers,

governors, viziers, tax-gatherers, and soldiers


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Role of the Priests and New Physical Structuring

When use of physical power was not enough toensure complete obedience, the same was achieved

by exploiting the religious sensibilities of the people

The shrine moved within the precincts of the citadel

Priests were begun to be identified with the Chieftain Often, the Chieftain even assumed the role of a priest

The Chieftain became all powerful and people

willingly obeyed whatever he commanded

He elevated himself to the status of the king - onewho commanded a territory recognized as his

kingdom

The castle grew into a fort and the shrine into a

temple


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Labour Specialisation

Under the centralised command of the king, many

large scale constructions such as protective walls,

moats, forts and temples, network of irrigation

channels, cisterns and reservoirs were completed

Mines were found for quarrying building materials

Timber began to be used in buildings in combination

with other materials

Labour Specialisation was carried a step further

New occupation groups such as engineers,

construction labourers, carpenters, miners and

transporters (boatmen, sailors, loaders and cart

men), merchants ( including money-lenders and

bankers), soldiers and priests were added


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Caste Differentiation

Members assumed or were assigned specific

functions by the ruler

Persons assigned jobs such as scavenging and

cobbling were assigned low status in the society, paid

minimal wages and remained poor

Whereas, people performing religious, administrative

and intellectual functions were accorded high status,

were paid high salaries and became rich

They were considered to be belonging to high castecategories

Community was not only divided into rich and poor

but also caste managed


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CivilizationLanguage, Art and Technology

Man developed new skills in art to create carvings,engravings and paintings

Developed a kind of common language

Learned the use of metals and acquired an array of

new implements

Used these houses to make bigger houses, temples

and tombs


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Urban Settlement

Community Structure

Labour specialisation

New occupations teachers, advocates, judges,government servants

New class of people philosophers, scientists,

administrators, political leaders, dramatists, sculptureartists, architects and town planners

Distinct social classes

Non-agricultural occupations expanded at a faster

rate


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Urban Settlement

Community Structure

Invention of new means of transport

Expansion of trade

Merchants organised themselves in the from of guilds

Development of art and literature

Acquisition of wealth and knowledge

A general sense of appreciation for civic concerns

Structural transformations continued over subsequent

civilisations and cultural phases


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New Physical Structuring

The Urban Settlement

The village evolved into its urban counterpart

Difficult to say when the first urban settlement existed

According to some historians, first settled habitation

existed as early as about 13,000 B. C.

First known settlement as claimed by archaeologists

was Jericho in modern Israel and was established in

7,800 B. C.

First indisputable permanent settlement inhabited by

farming community was Jarmo in Khurdistan area of

Iraq during 7,000 and 6,500 B. C.

The first identifiable urban settlements are believed to

have existed by 3,500 B. C.


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Physical Form of Urban Settlement

A common core consisting of the castle, fortress, fort,

the temple, and houses of the nobles and the priests

A public square which generally formed part of the

core

A market place and perhaps a school

Tombs, statues, rock sculptures, colonnades,

obelisks, fountains, parks, gardens and canals

Protective inner and outer walls with moats and

monumental gates


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Physical Form of Urban Settlement

Dwellings of the common people

Theatre, government offices, gymnasiums, judicialcourts and institutions of higher learning (added

during the Greek Period) Networks of water supply, sewerage, drainage,

transportation systems, bath houses, coliseums, andcircuses (added by the Romans)

Church became the central focus of medieval towns.

Monasteries became new centre of activity

Warehouses to store the wealth of the town

Guild halls and Town halls

Documents

Evolution of Settlements - I