1 - Contemporary Urban Geographies

Question 1

What is urbanisation?

Answer 1

(EEA, 2024) - The increase in the proportion of people living in towns and cities

Question 2

What is urban growth?

Answer 2

(Merriam-Webster, 2024) - The spreading of urban developments on undeveloped land near a city

Question 3

What is urbanism?

Answer 3

(Elliott, 2012) - The study of how the inhabitants of urban areas interact with the built environment

Question 4

How long did it take to reach the first billion urban dwellers?

Answer 4

(UN, 2018) - About 10,000 years (circa 8000 BC to 1960)

Question 5

How long did it take to go from 1 to 2 billion urban dwellers?

Answer 5

(UN, 2018) - 25 years (1960–1985)

Question 6

Describe urbanisation in the Global North historically.

Answer 6

Slow mid-20th century urbanisation alongside industrialisation

Question 7

Describe contemporary urbanisation in the Global North.

Answer 7

‘Counter-urbanisation’ occurring alongside stable urbanisation

Question 8

Describe the future trend of urbanisation in the Global North.

Answer 8

Very slow urbanisation rates

Question 9

Describe historical urbanisation in the Global South.

Answer 9

Historically rural, although Latin America urbanised mid-20th century

Question 10

Describe contemporary urbanisation in the Global South.

Answer 10

Rapid urbanisation concentrated in Asia and Africa

Question 11

Describe future urbanisation trends in the Global South.

Answer 11

Continued rapid urbanisation in Africa and Asia - Africa should have a 50% urban population by 2030(Commission for Africa, 2005)