CONTEMPORARY URBAN ENVIRONMENTS: Urbanisation

Urbanisation: an incrase in the proportion of the country's population living in a town or city.

Importance of Urban Areas in Human Affairs:

- Organisation of economic production (e.g. concentration of financial services)

- Exchange of ideas and creative thinking (e.g. universities)

- Social and cultural centres (e.g. theatres and national stadia)

- Centres of political power and decision-making (e.g. seat of government).

How Have Global Pattern of Urbanisation Changed Since 1945?

1945: 

Mega Cities: Japan, Tokyo & Washington, USA

2014:

Mega Cities: Mumbai, India & Beijing, China

Urban Resurgence: population movement from rural to urban areas. Usually university students and mobile young people. Influx of youth and wealth encourages revival. This is the 4th population movement.

Suburbanisation: the decentalisation of people, employment and services towards the edges of an urban area. This urban sprawl is closely lined with the development of public transport e.g. the London Underground.

Counterurbanisation: population movement from urban areas to rural areas and smaller urban settlements. People move due to push factors e.g. crime and congestion of the city - and pull factors of the countryside e.g. nicer environment, safer and more aesthetically pleasing.

Megacities: city regions with a population of over 10 million people. In 1970, only 3 megacities existed. In 2014, 28 megacities…