evolution of settlements - i
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Origin and Evolution of Human
SettlementsVarious StagesMan as Nomad and Cave Dweller
(Up to 10,000 B. C.)
Earth estimated to be formed about 4 billion years
ago Homo Sapiens (the one existing species of man)
believe to date from about 500,000 B. C.
Earliest man did not settle anywhere as they
wandered around in search of food Did not know how to construct buildings so lived in
the open
Occasionally took shelter on top of trees to protect
themselves from wild animals
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Origin and Evolution of Human
Settlements
Man as Nomad and Cave Dweller
(Up to 10,000 B.C.)
Later man began to live in caves by the side of rivers,lakes and springs
Sites protected by rivers, swamps or elevated terrain
preferred
Caves not used as places for fixed residence When food gathering in the vicinity became difficult,
early man moved to another location.
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Origin and Evolution of Human
Settlements
Towards Settled Habitation(Up to 10,000 B. C. - 5,000 B. C.)
Man learned to practice cultivation
Could stay at one place and produce food
Began to settle down near the fields cultivated bythem
Choose fertile lands and where water was available
in plenty
Learned to build huts and mud houses
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Origin and Evolution of Human
SettlementsTowards Settled Habitation
(Up to 10,000 B. C. - 5,000 B. C.)
Some of the earliest settlements began to take shape Settlements then consisted of groups of houses built
by the side of agricultural fields, a shrine and a burial
ground.
Some inhabitants continued to live in caves andwander around for hunting animals - more as a
pastime rather than as a necessity
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Origin and Evolution of Human
Settlements
The Common Habitat and Onset of Civilisation
Inhabitants organized as a community under a
recognized leader
Began to get the first lessons of civilized living Started learning to provide for themselves the three
basic necessities of life - food, clothing and shelter
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Origin and Evolution of Human
SettlementsShifting Cultivation
Shift to new location after experiencing decrease in
fertility after successive cultivation Later learned that land regained fertility if it is left
uncultivated for few years
Began to cultivate fields by rotation
Thus managed to stop shifting practice and settleddown at on place
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Origin and Evolution of Human
SettlementsFood Surplus
Learned to make manure out of night soil and animal
droppings
Greatly increased food production
As food became abundant, health of people improved
Death rate dropped, birth rate increased and
population of many settlements began to multiplyrapidly through the natural process
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Origin and Evolution of Human
Settlements
Beginning of permanent settlement
Assured food supply through agriculture encouraged
man to permanently settle by the side of the fields hecultivated
Compact settlement since agriculture could support
up to 35 persons per sq. km as compared to 15
persons per sq. km applicable to hunting and foodgathering societies
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Origin and Evolution of Human
SettlementsFavorable Locations for Settlements
Favorable environment for human existence and
survival
Climate not very harsh
Epidemics not frequent
Land fertile
Good quality of water available in plenty River Valleys as popular places for settled habitation
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Origin and Evolution of Human
SettlementsWhy River Valleys
Land was fertile, water and food (fishes and prongs)
extracted from rivers, and soft clay good for
constructing huts River also used later as means of transportation
First settlements in the river valleys of India, China,
Egypt, and areas known as the Fertile Crescent
(modern Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Israel)
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Origin and Evolution of Human
SettlementsOther Factors Considered for Siting Settlements
Took care to locate on higher ground for better
drainage, protection from floods and reasons of
security
Spacing between settlements to leave space for
future expansion
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Community Structuring
Barter System
The most ancient form of trading
Those who were not farmers were supplied food in
exchange of goods they produced
Shepherds got grains in exchange for milk, weaversfor cloth, potters for utensils, and craftsmen for tools
and implements
Initially practiced within the community
Later as river and land routes developed fortransportation, goods began to be exchanged across
communities
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Community Structuring
Trading With transportation, reputation of some of the goods
produced by craftsmen of particular villages began to
travel far and wide
As the demand of goods increased, trading of suchgoods began to grow.
Traders emerged as a new class of people, trading
as a new occupation and market place as the new
physical component of settlements.
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Community Structuring
Social Stratification
Early traders most probably belonged to the hunting
tribe - people already used to traveling
They were also recognised as leaders as they
provided protection to the community against wildanimals
After they began trading activity,they accumulated
goods and became wealthy
They also accumulated knowledge as they traveledlong distances and met many people
Their hold on the community increased and became
quite powerful. One of them became a chieftain
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Physical StructuringNew Physical Features
The chieftain built for himself a castle which towered
over the other buildings,more so because it was built
at the highest point in the village
The rich traders and wealthy farmers built their
houses near the castle - the new distinguishing
feature and a status symbol
Relatively poor artisans and ordinary peasants
occupied quarters on the periphery
The community was divided between the rich and the
poor and the two social classes occupied different
sections of the settlements
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Physical Structuring
New Physical Features
The rich and the poor gradually grew antagonistic to
each other The rich became concerned about their life and
property Built a wall around their castle and thus created
fortified castle
Man had originally learned to ward of danger from
beasts and wild animals but now was afraid of beingattacked by fellow human beings
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Physical Structuring
The Walled Settlements
The strife between the people of the same settlementlater supplemented by that between the people of
different settlements
The rich settlements were exposed to the danger of
being raided by outsiders
The wall around the settlement was built in addition
to the one already existing around the castle
This effectively curbed physical spread of settlements
People living outside moved in
The density of population began to rise
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New Community StructuringSubjugation of Peasants
The external threat brought forth the necessity ofinternal unity
Need for mutually defending themselves
But the new organization of the community was such
that it resulted in the subjugation and exploitation of alarge majority of peasants by a small minority of the
rich - the so called nobles
The Chieftain claimed a share in the agricultural
surplus in return for the protection provided by him tothe community
Initially it could be described as the beginning of the
taxation system that was perhaps willingly done
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New Community Structuring
Placing more resources at the disposal of the
Chieftain meant better equipped army and betterprotection for the community
Soon the beneficent role of the Chieftain was
corrupted by his lust for power
As his resources increased and he became morepowerful, he began to demand a larger share of the
agricultural surplus
Ultimately leaving barely minimum for the survival of
the peasant and his family Chieftain was supported in his exploitative pursuits by
a large number of military and army officers,
governors, viziers, tax-gatherers, and soldiers
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New Community Structuring
Role of the Priests and New Physical Structuring
When use of physical power was not enough toensure complete obedience, the same was achieved
by exploiting the religious sensibilities of the people
The shrine moved within the precincts of the citadel
Priests were begun to be identified with the Chieftain Often, the Chieftain even assumed the role of a priest
The Chieftain became all powerful and people
willingly obeyed whatever he commanded
He elevated himself to the status of the king - onewho commanded a territory recognized as his
kingdom
The castle grew into a fort and the shrine into a
temple
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New Community Structuring
Labour Specialisation
Under the centralised command of the king, many
large scale constructions such as protective walls,
moats, forts and temples, network of irrigation
channels, cisterns and reservoirs were completed
Mines were found for quarrying building materials
Timber began to be used in buildings in combination
with other materials
Labour Specialisation was carried a step further
New occupation groups such as engineers,
construction labourers, carpenters, miners and
transporters (boatmen, sailors, loaders and cart
men), merchants ( including money-lenders and
bankers), soldiers and priests were added
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New Community Structuring
Caste Differentiation
Members assumed or were assigned specific
functions by the ruler
Persons assigned jobs such as scavenging and
cobbling were assigned low status in the society, paid
minimal wages and remained poor
Whereas, people performing religious, administrative
and intellectual functions were accorded high status,
were paid high salaries and became rich
They were considered to be belonging to high castecategories
Community was not only divided into rich and poor
but also caste managed
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CivilizationLanguage, Art and Technology
Man developed new skills in art to create carvings,engravings and paintings
Developed a kind of common language
Learned the use of metals and acquired an array of
new implements
Used these houses to make bigger houses, temples
and tombs
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Urban Settlement
Community Structure
Labour specialisation
New occupations teachers, advocates, judges,government servants
New class of people philosophers, scientists,
administrators, political leaders, dramatists, sculptureartists, architects and town planners
Distinct social classes
Non-agricultural occupations expanded at a faster
rate
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Urban Settlement
Community Structure
Invention of new means of transport
Expansion of trade
Merchants organised themselves in the from of guilds
Development of art and literature
Acquisition of wealth and knowledge
A general sense of appreciation for civic concerns
Structural transformations continued over subsequent
civilisations and cultural phases
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New Physical Structuring
The Urban Settlement
The village evolved into its urban counterpart
Difficult to say when the first urban settlement existed
According to some historians, first settled habitation
existed as early as about 13,000 B. C.
First known settlement as claimed by archaeologists
was Jericho in modern Israel and was established in
7,800 B. C.
First indisputable permanent settlement inhabited by
farming community was Jarmo in Khurdistan area of
Iraq during 7,000 and 6,500 B. C.
The first identifiable urban settlements are believed to
have existed by 3,500 B. C.
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New Physical Structuring
Physical Form of Urban Settlement
A common core consisting of the castle, fortress, fort,
the temple, and houses of the nobles and the priests
A public square which generally formed part of the
core
A market place and perhaps a school
Tombs, statues, rock sculptures, colonnades,
obelisks, fountains, parks, gardens and canals
Protective inner and outer walls with moats and
monumental gates
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New Physical Structuring
Physical Form of Urban Settlement
Dwellings of the common people
Theatre, government offices, gymnasiums, judicialcourts and institutions of higher learning (added
during the Greek Period) Networks of water supply, sewerage, drainage,
transportation systems, bath houses, coliseums, andcircuses (added by the Romans)
Church became the central focus of medieval towns.
Monasteries became new centre of activity
Warehouses to store the wealth of the town
Guild halls and Town halls
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