Topic 4: Changing Cities

Question 1

Define urbanisation

Answer 1

Increase in percentage of people living in towns and cities

Question 2

Describe the process of urbanisation in Developed countries.

Answer 2

• Began in industrial revolution (19th century)
• So, there were more factories and therefore job opportunities in the cities which attracted people
• New machinery on farms meant less workers were needed there

Recent:
Now, 82% of the UK population lives in urban areas
- Counter-urbanisation has occurred (people move out of towns to countryside) as well as re-urbanisation where young people move close to city centres

Question 3

Describe the impacts of urbanisation in Developed countries.

Answer 3

• Overcrowding
• Increased pollution
• Can be more expensive to live in cities

Question 4

Describe the process of urbanisation in Developing and Emerging countries (+ impacts)

Answer 4

• Growth has been much more recent that developed courntries (in last 50 years) + happened much faster
• So, this rapid growth resulted in there not being enough time to build sufficient houses for those moving into cities. Meaning, some people have to rent or build their own homes in slums/SHANTY TOWNS
• Not enough time to build facilities they need

Question 5

What are the 2 main reasons for cities in emerging and developing countries growing quickly?

Answer 5

Natural increase
Migration

Question 6

Explain the rapid growth of megacities in developing/emerging countries.

Answer 6

Natural increase: Birth rate higher than death rate = increased population

Migration: Push factors in countryside (such as mechanisation of farming reducing number of jobs, harsh conditions of rural life) and pull factors of cities (such as better jobs, education, healthcare and education) contribute to growth of megacities

Question 7

Name the UK’s major urban centres

Answer 7

From top to bottom, beginning with ireland:
Belfast
Edinburgh, Glasgow
Newcastle upon Tyne
Leeds
Manchester
Birmingham
London

Question 8

What physical factors contribute to the uneven distribution of the Uk’s population?

Answer 8

North and west: Land is higher, slopes are steeper, soils are thinner, farming is more difficult so fewer people live there
South and east: Rich soils also result in lower population density as farming communities are far away from large towns

ADDITIONALLY: Some areas of land more difficult to build on than others

Question 9

What historical factors contribute to the uneven distribution of the Uk’s population?

Answer 9

Industrial revolution in 19th century led to rapid growth of factory towns on coalfields
London being the capital city and having an important port means it attracted industries and in-migration of people needing work

Question 10

What economic factors contribute to the uneven distribution of the Uk’s population?

Answer 10

• From 1950s onwards, UK economic growth focused on tertiary (health, education, transport) and quaternary industries (research and development).
• Some places have universities, meaning educated people make businesses there attracting more people.

Question 11

What political factors contribute to the uneven distribution of the Uk’s population?

Answer 11

People are attracted to centres of power like London in search of better jobs

Question 12

Define site and situation

Answer 12

Site - Actual location on the earth and physical characteristics of the landscape

Situation - Location of place relative to its surroundings

Question 13

What’s a megacity?

Answer 13

City with a population over 10 million