introduction: history of urbanization + paar Fragen aus Leonhards Skripten

Question 1

What are definitions of urban?

Answer 1

agglomerations with >50% impervious surface, surrounded by other areas with 30-50% impervious surface
OR
>1000 humans per km² (=10 per hectare),
impervious surface >50%

Question 2

Population of Berlin? (per km²)

Answer 2

3973 per km²

Question 3

First cities/settlements

Answer 3

Neolithic revolution (agricultural revolution) -> first cities were built

One center of origin of agriculture (oldest): fertile crescent, 11 000 BP (Western Asia)

First cities were founded in Western Asia, examples:
Jericho - Palestine, 12 000 BP
Tell Brak - Syria, even older

Question 4

When were the first cities founded in germany?

Answer 4

7500 BP, first settlements in germany (no cities!)

2030 BP, Trier (oldest town)

Question 5

In which period were many cities founded in germany?

Answer 5

Medieval warm period

Question 6

At which location are cities usually founded?

Answer 6

Along rivers and coastlines -> trade routes

sometimes on a hill -> easy to defend

Question 7

How many people will live in cities in 2030? (percentage)

Answer 7

60% of world population

Question 8

urban growth per year? (ha/year)

Answer 8

26 000 ha/year

Question 9

urban vs rural: abundance of plant species

Answer 9

In urban grid cells are more native + introduced plant species

Question 10

vegetation cover abundance in cities?

Answer 10

decreasing towards urban core

Question 11

Example for an environmental change

Answer 11

Decreasing forest for construction material and firewood -> down to 20% in 1300 BP
More grassland and arable fields instead -> neolithic revolution
no natural forests left in germany

Question 12

Second Example for environmental change

Answer 12

Industrial revolution in 1760 causes pollution, dust, chemicals
first environmental law 100 years later

Question 13

Categories of berlin Biodiversitätsstrategie

Answer 13

Arten und Lebensräume
Genetische Vielfalt
Urbane Vielfalt
Gesellschaft

Question 14

principles of environmental justice

Answer 14

Equal access to healthy environment
Equal protection from hazards
Equal access to decision-making, planning

Question 15

Environmental challenges of Urban Millennium

Answer 15

• loss of biodiversity and natural land
• seperation of humans and nature
• unhealthy environmental conditions
• missing environmental justice
• climate change

Question 16

What is hemeroby?

Answer 16

measure of the total human impact on ecosystems

Question 17

What is the anthropocene?

Answer 17

a proposed geological epoch that begins when human

activities started to have a significant global impact on Earth’s geology and ecosystems

Question 18

ESS within the city

Answer 18

• green roof tops and yards safe money (meadows are cheaper than lawns)
• cooling environment 3-10°C
• 10% less dust pollution/particular matter
• direct and indirect noise reduction
• green view reduces stress
• access to green space good for health and social interactions

Question 19

Urban vs rural (past and today)

Are cities clearly seperated from less built rural hinterlands?

Answer 19

Past: “Urban islands in the rural sea” -> Cities
Today: “Rural remnants in the urban sea” -> Urban regions, agglomerations e.g. “Metropole Ruhr”

Question 20

What is the Neolithic Revolution?

Answer 20

• Domestication of animals and plants
• Agriculture
• first rural settlements
• first cities

…..enhanced by climate warming

Question 21

Why was Berlin founded at this location?

Answer 21

• close to river (-> trade)
• good position to cross the floodplains of the Spree river
• crossing of trading routes

Question 22

Shifting Baseline Syndrome

Answer 22

In the absence of past information or experience with historical conditions, members of each new generation accept the situation in which they were raised as being normal. This psychological and sociological phenomenon is termed shifting baseline syndrome (SBS).

Source: Soga & Gaston (2018)