How did settlements start?

Why did humans settle down?

Learning Objectives

To know and understand why humans began to settle in places (agriculture, religion, conflict etc)

To know the difference between site and situation

To understand how these influence settlements

What does What does ‘Settlement’ mean?‘Settlement’ mean? On your own, list the words that you would

include in the definition Now share your words in pairs Share as a table and write a definition as a

table

Settlement

A settlement is a place where groups of people live.

Settlements can range from small hamlets and villages to huge cities such as London

50% of the world’s population now live in cities.

Site and situation

A site is the actual place where a settlement developed. It describes the physical nature of where it is located. E.g. water supply, building materials, quality of soil,

climate, shelter and defence 

The situation of a settlement is the description of the settlement in relation to surrounding features such as other settlements and physical features around it. The situation of a settlement is the most important in determining whether it grows to become a large city or stays as a small town or village.

•Site

•Situation

•Function

•Shape

•Population

•Area

How can we describe settlements?

Settlement Sites

A

B

C

You are the chief of a small tribe who have migrated from your homelands in the south due to war. You have arrived in a new area but need to choose between sites A, B and C for your new settlement. Explain how you decided on your choice of site.

Reasons to choose a

sett lement site

Main types of site

Dry point sites – built on higher, drier ground to avoid flooding from rivers

Wet point sites – built by rivers or springs to improve access to water

Defensive – built on a protective site e.g. steep sided hills, surrounded by water

Bridging point i.e. to cross a river where it’s narrow enough

Nodal point – centre of several communications

Dry Point Sites

Settlements that have been built upon higher land above the floodplain to protect them from flooding or upon “islands” of higher, drier ground in an otherwise marshy area. For example, Ely in Cambridgeshire.

Wet Point SitesSettlements that have been built by rivers or at springs to improve their access to water. For example, Kingston-Upon-Thames in Surrey.

Settlement Sites

Defence

Settlements that have been built on a site that protects them from surrounding tribes. Such sites may have been protected on three sides by water (eg Durham) or on a hill with steep sides and commanding views.

Gordes, France

Bridging Points

These settlements are located by a bridge on a river. They might originally have been built by a ford in the river. For example, Bedford in Bedfordshire.

Nodal Points

These settlements are located where several valleys (natural routes) meet to give a route centre.

Communications

Food supply

Settlements that were located on suitable land for animal grazing and for growing crops.

Fuel supply

Settlements that were built by wooded areas or in later times on coalfields. Fuel was vital for both heating and cooking.

Which factors of location are still applicable today in Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs)?

Resources

Settlements that were built in sheltered areas such as valleys or in bays at coastal locations. Aspect (the direction in which a settlement faces) was also an important consideration. Settlements would be more ideally located on south-facing slopes in the Northern Hemisphere and on north-facing slopes in the Southern Hemisphere. For example, in Britain, it was an advantage to be sheltered from cold winds blowing from the North, and to be facing South which meant more sunlight.

Aspect and Shelter

Northern Hemisphere

sun is in the Southsettlements on south-facing slopes receive more heat and sunlight

SN

B

A

C

D E

Match the description of the settlement sites to the locations A to E on the map.

N

Bridging point

Defensive site

Wet point site

Dry point site

Nodal point

B

A

C

D E

Match the description of the settlement sites to the locations A to E on the map.

N

Bridging point

Defensive site

Wet point site

Dry point site

Nodal pointNodal point

Bridging point

Defensive siteWet point site

Dry point site