Origin Of Human SettlementsHuman settlement is defined as a community or a group of people living together in a particular place to realize certain objectives.Human settlements (be they rural or urban) could only exist if certain conditions could exist or were fulfilled. These conditions were:1.Security: If a place was secure, then communities could settle. A place where it was possible to shelter from attacks by other communities, wild beasts, pests and/or parasites and harsh climatic conditions was considered ideal for settlement. In Africa, some sites were considered not to be culturally suitable for settlement and hence were avoided even when they met the other conditions. Give examples.

Origin of settlements contd2.Production of Surplus Food: if a community could produce a reservoir of food to last till the next season, then settlement would be possible e.g. River basins Euphrates and Tigris for early civilization.3Specialization of Activities &Division of Labour. If a community could practice division of labour such that some members were free from the routine of producing food, then, some members could be utilized in the production of other goods and services. Where such was possible then settlement could take place or flourish.

Origin of settlements contd4.Exchange of Goods and Services through Trade Communities tended to flourish where there was an organization or organized exchange of goods and services.5. Availability of basic buildings materials: such as timber, wood, water, stone/mud, straw from the wetlands. All these things influenced settlement of communities as these materials are necessary in the construction of shelter and other functional buildings/structures

Functions of Human SettlementsHuman settlements mainly offer three functions:Residential Accommodation especially for those people who derive their livelihood from non-farm activities. It is assumed that those in rural areas/agricultural areas have their own accommodation. Care must, however, be taken to ensure that even those in agriculture farms have better shelter.

Functions of Human Settlements contdService Function: Human settlements have to offer the following services / facilities:EducationalHealth AdministrativeSocial-Cultural / Religious Judicial-courts, prisons and Remand homes

Functions of Human Settlements contdEconomic Functions Human settlements usually offer markets, goods and services, employment and income generating opportunities and also enable people to access manufactured goods.NBThe more efficiently the above conditions and functions were met, the higher the level of civilization of the human settlements / communities. If the conditions ceased the settlement or settled communities also ceased.

Basic forms of Rural SettlementsLinear HamletsSome of the hamlets have a linear form. That is, buildings are clustered along features such as roads or streams as shown in this figure.

Grouped HamletsSometimes hamlets are groups of buildings clustered at the intersection of several roads.

String VillageLike hamlets, some villages are grouped along rivers, roads, streams, or other linear features. These places are called string villages.

Cluster Village.Some Villages group around road intersections and these are called cluster villages

Rounded VillageDefense is one of the reason houses in a village are clustered together. Other settlement forms may also leave the best land available for farming. By occupying hilltops or rocky areas, for instance better farmland is available for farming

Skeleton Grid

Walled VillageHistorically, houses in villages were clustered together for defensive reasons. People could defend themselves against outsiders by grouping themselves together. In fact many old villages and walled villages are often clustered together in this way. Many old cities around the world began behind strong defensive walls.

Rural DispersalOn the other hand, a rural community may take the scattered or dispersed pattern of settlement, e.g. in the arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya

Hierarchy of Human SettlementsIt is usually difficult to determine the difference between rural and urban settlements but using the rural/urban continuum one can see how these settlements have evolved from basically rural agrarian economies to non-agrarian economies or communities Settlements are arranged in a hierarchy. A hierarchy is similar to a pyramid or a continuum. A continuum of human settlements can be used, for instance, to show the progression of each activity say shopping, education and leisure as illustrated below.

CitiesRural Urban Settlement Pyramid

Rural-Urban Settlement Continuum

A Continuum of Low High Order Goods/Services

The lower order centres, have local activities / lower order goods and services, which are not specialized. Such services are available also at the other higher levels. While the higher order centres, have more specialized activities; with the highest order centres, offering the most specialized activities; which are not found at the other levels.Ask the class to give examples of such centres and the goods they offer.

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