IGCSE Geography; Settlement Heirarchy

Summary

In this video, we explore the concept of settlement hierarchy, detailing the various levels of settlements from small hamlets to large capital cities. The hierarchy is based on size, importance, and influence, with smaller settlements like hamlets offering limited services, while larger towns, cities, and mega cities provide a broader range of goods and services. Capital cities are the most significant, often hosting government and financial sectors. As settlements increase in size, their influence grows, and they tend to offer higher-order goods and services, affecting a larger sphere of influence.

Takeaways

• 😀 Settlement hierarchy ranks settlements based on their size, importance, and influence.
• 😀 Hamlets are the smallest settlements, typically with limited services like a small shop or pub.
• 😀 Villages are larger than hamlets and offer more services such as a grocer, bakery, and a pub.
• 😀 Towns are significantly larger, often with populations up to 100,000, and offer a wide range of services like supermarkets, schools, and public transport.
• 😀 Cities are larger still, with populations ranging from several hundred thousand to millions, and provide a broader range of goods and services, including international airports and universities.
• 😀 Mega cities can have populations of over 10 million people, offering even more diverse and specialized services.
• 😀 Capital cities are typically the largest cities in a country and offer the most extensive services, including government, financial institutions, and luxury retailers.
• 😀 The higher up the settlement hierarchy, the fewer the number of settlements but the larger and more influential they become.
• 😀 Higher-order goods are more likely to be found in larger settlements as their services increase with size and importance.
• 😀 Larger settlements have a larger sphere of influence, meaning their economic, social, and cultural impact extends further.

Q & A

What is the concept of settlement hierarchy?

Settlement hierarchy is a ranking system that classifies settlements based on their size, importance, and the range of goods and services they provide. It typically starts with smaller settlements like hamlets and moves up to larger ones like capital cities.

What are hamlets, and where are they typically found?

Hamlets are very small settlements usually found in rural areas. They often have only a few services, such as one shop or a pub, and are less populous than other types of settlements.

How do villages differ from hamlets in terms of services and population?

Villages are slightly larger than hamlets and have a higher population. They offer more services, such as a grocer, bakery, post office, and pub, making them more equipped to meet the needs of their residents.

What defines a town, and what services can you expect to find there?

Towns are larger settlements, typically with a population of up to 100,000 people. They offer a wider range of services, such as supermarkets, department stores, bus and train stations, secondary schools, libraries, and cinemas.

How do cities differ from towns in terms of population and services?

Cities are larger than towns, with populations ranging from half a million people to several million in major cities. They offer a broader range of services, including international airports, universities, and specialized medical facilities.

What are mega cities, and what types of services do they provide?

Mega cities are the largest cities, often with populations over 10 million. They provide an extensive range of goods and services, such as international airports, universities, luxury dealerships, and specialized medical facilities.

What makes capital cities stand out in the settlement hierarchy?

Capital cities are typically the largest and most important settlements in a country. They often host the government, key financial sectors, central banks, and offer the widest range of services compared to other cities in the country.

How does the size of settlements affect the range of goods and services they provide?

As settlements grow in size, the number and variety of goods and services they provide also increase. Larger settlements are able to support more complex services, including international travel, specialized healthcare, and luxury goods.

What is the relationship between settlement size and the number of settlements in a given area?

As the size of a settlement increases, the number of settlements typically decreases. Larger settlements are fewer in number, but they serve a larger population and offer a greater variety of services.

How does a settlement's sphere of influence change as it moves up the settlement hierarchy?

As settlements move up the hierarchy, their sphere of influence increases. Larger settlements like cities and capital cities have a broader impact on surrounding areas, often offering services and goods that smaller settlements cannot provide.