6.1 The Origin and Influences of Urbanization

What is urbanization?

Urbanization is the growth of cities and the increasing share of people living in urban areas rather than rural ones. It involves both the physical growth of urban areas and a shift in population and economic activity from agriculture toward industry, trade, and services concentrated in cities.

Origins: the first cities

Cities emerged after the Agricultural Revolution created food surpluses, allowing some people to leave farming and specialize in crafts, trade, or governance. Early cities arose in fertile river valleys like Mesopotamia (Fertile Crescent), the Nile, Indus, and Huang He valleys, where reliable agriculture supported dense, permanent settlements and social hierarchies.

Site and situation factors

Site refers to a city's physical characteristics (terrain, climate, water access), while situation refers to its location relative to other places (trade routes, resources, other cities). Favorable site and situation — like access to rivers, defensible land, or crossroads — historically determined which settlements grew into major urban centers.

Key terms

Urbanization

The growth of cities and increasing proportion of people living in urban areas, along with a shift toward urban economic activity.

Site

The physical characteristics of a location, such as terrain, climate, and water access.

Situation

A location's position relative to other places, such as trade routes and resources.

Agricultural Revolution's role in urbanization

Created food surpluses that allowed labor specialization, enabling the growth of cities.

Early city locations

Fertile river valleys like Mesopotamia, the Nile, Indus, and Huang He, which supported dense agricultural settlements.

Try an AP-style question

Early cities first developed where…

1. agricultural surplus existed
2. no rivers existed
3. deserts were widespread
4. hunting was common