GEOG 201 FINAL Study Questions
Why is it difficult to precisely identify global urban trends such as which is the largest city? (p.
253)
This level of precision relies on definitions that differ between countries and therefore creates a
degree of uncertainty. If that country has an extremely large population, the shift may affect the
urban-rural proportions for the world as a whole.
What is the difference between a city, an urban area, and a metropolitan area? (pp. 253-254)
City - a legally incorporated self-governing unit; an inhabited place of greater size, population, or
importance than a town or village.
Urban area - the spatial extent of the built-up area surrounding and including an incorporated
municipality, such as a city; typically assessed by some combination of population size, density
and the nature of residents' employment.
Metropolitan area - a region comprising two or more functionally connected urban areas and the
less densely populated areas between them; ex: metropolitan New York, GTA.
Can you describe the contemporary patterns of urban growth in less developed countries? How
does this compare to urban growth in more developed countries? (pp. 255-256)
Less - Rapid urban growth started later (mid-20th century) and it was dramatic with urban
centers acting as magnets for the rural poor during a period of exponential population growth in
these regions. Some rural-to-urban migration, others rural places were transformed into urban
centers through natural increase of pop. Both have added squatter settlements at the margins.
More - Industrial revolution gave rapid growth to urban. Caused by increase in migration from
rural to urban and fast total pop increase during the 2nd and 3rd stages of demographic
transition. Growth had expansion of urban, making of suburbs and increasing urban sprawl.
While urbanization is occurring rapidly in the less developed world, what regional variations
does this generalization obscure? (pp. 256-257)
In the less developed world, Latin America and the Caribbean were already highly urbanized
Much of the expected growth in the Asian urban population will come from its two largest
countries, China and India, which are still relatively non-urban
Can you outline for Canada the process of urbanization since 1950 to now, and the projection
for urban growth to 2050? (pp. 258-259)
- In 1950 there were just two megacities: New York with 12.3 million people and Tokyo with 11.3.
,- By 1975 there were four megacities: Tokyo with 26.6 million people, New York with 15.9,
Shanghai with 11.4, and Mexico City with 10.7.
- By 2018 there were 33 megacities; that number is expected to rise to 43 by 2030, with most of
the new megacities located in the less developed world.
Canada's urban population for 2050 is projected to reach 87.3 per cent
What is the projected future global trend in the growth of megacities? (pp. 260-262)
The basic pattern is projected to change significantly by 2030, with 10 more cities added to the
list. Perhaps the most notable change between 2018 and 2030 is the substantial growth
anticipated for the African cities like Lagos and Cairo, and the South Asian cities like Delhi,
Lahore. Each is projected to grow by more than 5 million over the next dozen years
What key characteristics distinguish megacities in the developed world from those in less
developed nations? (p. 262)
Developed - Tokyo, London, and New York—play significant roles in controlling the global
economy
Less - representative of the global urban future because they are located in less developed
countries and beset with problems of inadequate infrastructure, congestion, pollution, crime, and
poverty
Urban settlements arose in what six hearth areas? What were some of the key stimuli for the
emergence of these urban settlements? (pp. 263-264)
Mesopotamia Huang River Valley
Northern Egypt Mesoamerica
Indus River Valley Pacific-Andean South America
- small permanent agricultural settlements arose. Over time, these communities became more
economically specialized and grew in size and stature until recognized as urban
settlements/cities
How does the pre-industrial urbanization that occurred in hearth areas within what is now
Europe compare with that which occurred in either Asia or the Islamic world? (pp. 265-267)
Islamic World - grew in size and stature. The Islamic Golden Age, roughly from 800 to 1500 CE,
saw much of the world's advances in science, mathematics, technology, and urban architecture
originate in Islamic cities.
Pre-Industrial Europe - the eleventh century was fuelled by increasing commercial activities,
political power gains by political units (later to be recognized as countries), population
increases, and agricultural technology advancements, Urbanization was encouraged in the
seventeenth century by the development of mercantilism. Following this approach, European
countries established colonial empires through exploration, territorial expansion, and economic
exploitation, all of which was aided by the development of cities as entrepots.
, What key features distinguish the second urban revolution from the first? What are the positive
and negative developments associated with this second trend in urbanization? (p. 268)
1st - The Industrial Revolution brought a series of changes that altered urban landscapes,
creating an urban revolution. The principal economic changes were related to a series of
technological advances, particularly in the areas of agriculture and manufacturing, which led to
the appearance of the industrial city.
2nd - scientific discoveries in the 1700s led to a second revolution, which further increased the
amount of food produced per unit of labour. Increased agricultural productivity resulted in an
oversupply of labour in rural areas. In search of employment, many rural folk migrated to cities
Negative - A great deal of industrial city growth occurred in an unregulated way and in an
uncontrolled environment. Consequently, the haphazard placement of factories, homes, shops,
transportation routes, and so on, made for a confusing and unpleasant place. heavily polluted:
factory smoke choked the air, effluent polluted the local water supply, garbage and refuse lay
uncollected in open spaces and on the streets, and human sewage was dumped into the city
drains
Positive - new and much greater scaled industrial enterprises, steam-powered engines, iron
railways, development of major transportation
Why are cities typically located where they are? How has this changed over time? Provide an
example.
- city's location with respect to its site and its situation. A city's site refers to its physical location
and the characteristics of that location, such as being at the head of a bay or estuary, at a
strategic river crossing, and so on. The city's situation refers to its location relative to others.
- we often think of how accessible a city is
Can you use central place theory to explain the location of different levels of hockey teams
throughout Canada? (pp. 271-273).
The range for parents taking their kids to house league hockey practices and games is much
smaller (perhaps a few kilometres) than the range for people attending a National Hockey
League (NHL) game (perhaps 100 km). Similarly, the threshold is much smaller for a house
league association (perhaps a few thousand families) when compared to a rep team (perhaps
10,000 families) and an NHL team (perhaps a million people).
What key characteristics of Toronto clearly define it as the pinnacle of Canada's urban
hierarchy? (p. 274)
- It is home to more corporate head offices than anywhere else in Canada.
- It is the financial and insurance capital of the country.
- It is the telecommunications and media heart of the country.
Why is it difficult to precisely identify global urban trends such as which is the largest city? (p.
253)
This level of precision relies on definitions that differ between countries and therefore creates a
degree of uncertainty. If that country has an extremely large population, the shift may affect the
urban-rural proportions for the world as a whole.
What is the difference between a city, an urban area, and a metropolitan area? (pp. 253-254)
City - a legally incorporated self-governing unit; an inhabited place of greater size, population, or
importance than a town or village.
Urban area - the spatial extent of the built-up area surrounding and including an incorporated
municipality, such as a city; typically assessed by some combination of population size, density
and the nature of residents' employment.
Metropolitan area - a region comprising two or more functionally connected urban areas and the
less densely populated areas between them; ex: metropolitan New York, GTA.
Can you describe the contemporary patterns of urban growth in less developed countries? How
does this compare to urban growth in more developed countries? (pp. 255-256)
Less - Rapid urban growth started later (mid-20th century) and it was dramatic with urban
centers acting as magnets for the rural poor during a period of exponential population growth in
these regions. Some rural-to-urban migration, others rural places were transformed into urban
centers through natural increase of pop. Both have added squatter settlements at the margins.
More - Industrial revolution gave rapid growth to urban. Caused by increase in migration from
rural to urban and fast total pop increase during the 2nd and 3rd stages of demographic
transition. Growth had expansion of urban, making of suburbs and increasing urban sprawl.
While urbanization is occurring rapidly in the less developed world, what regional variations
does this generalization obscure? (pp. 256-257)
In the less developed world, Latin America and the Caribbean were already highly urbanized
Much of the expected growth in the Asian urban population will come from its two largest
countries, China and India, which are still relatively non-urban
Can you outline for Canada the process of urbanization since 1950 to now, and the projection
for urban growth to 2050? (pp. 258-259)
- In 1950 there were just two megacities: New York with 12.3 million people and Tokyo with 11.3.
,- By 1975 there were four megacities: Tokyo with 26.6 million people, New York with 15.9,
Shanghai with 11.4, and Mexico City with 10.7.
- By 2018 there were 33 megacities; that number is expected to rise to 43 by 2030, with most of
the new megacities located in the less developed world.
Canada's urban population for 2050 is projected to reach 87.3 per cent
What is the projected future global trend in the growth of megacities? (pp. 260-262)
The basic pattern is projected to change significantly by 2030, with 10 more cities added to the
list. Perhaps the most notable change between 2018 and 2030 is the substantial growth
anticipated for the African cities like Lagos and Cairo, and the South Asian cities like Delhi,
Lahore. Each is projected to grow by more than 5 million over the next dozen years
What key characteristics distinguish megacities in the developed world from those in less
developed nations? (p. 262)
Developed - Tokyo, London, and New York—play significant roles in controlling the global
economy
Less - representative of the global urban future because they are located in less developed
countries and beset with problems of inadequate infrastructure, congestion, pollution, crime, and
poverty
Urban settlements arose in what six hearth areas? What were some of the key stimuli for the
emergence of these urban settlements? (pp. 263-264)
Mesopotamia Huang River Valley
Northern Egypt Mesoamerica
Indus River Valley Pacific-Andean South America
- small permanent agricultural settlements arose. Over time, these communities became more
economically specialized and grew in size and stature until recognized as urban
settlements/cities
How does the pre-industrial urbanization that occurred in hearth areas within what is now
Europe compare with that which occurred in either Asia or the Islamic world? (pp. 265-267)
Islamic World - grew in size and stature. The Islamic Golden Age, roughly from 800 to 1500 CE,
saw much of the world's advances in science, mathematics, technology, and urban architecture
originate in Islamic cities.
Pre-Industrial Europe - the eleventh century was fuelled by increasing commercial activities,
political power gains by political units (later to be recognized as countries), population
increases, and agricultural technology advancements, Urbanization was encouraged in the
seventeenth century by the development of mercantilism. Following this approach, European
countries established colonial empires through exploration, territorial expansion, and economic
exploitation, all of which was aided by the development of cities as entrepots.
, What key features distinguish the second urban revolution from the first? What are the positive
and negative developments associated with this second trend in urbanization? (p. 268)
1st - The Industrial Revolution brought a series of changes that altered urban landscapes,
creating an urban revolution. The principal economic changes were related to a series of
technological advances, particularly in the areas of agriculture and manufacturing, which led to
the appearance of the industrial city.
2nd - scientific discoveries in the 1700s led to a second revolution, which further increased the
amount of food produced per unit of labour. Increased agricultural productivity resulted in an
oversupply of labour in rural areas. In search of employment, many rural folk migrated to cities
Negative - A great deal of industrial city growth occurred in an unregulated way and in an
uncontrolled environment. Consequently, the haphazard placement of factories, homes, shops,
transportation routes, and so on, made for a confusing and unpleasant place. heavily polluted:
factory smoke choked the air, effluent polluted the local water supply, garbage and refuse lay
uncollected in open spaces and on the streets, and human sewage was dumped into the city
drains
Positive - new and much greater scaled industrial enterprises, steam-powered engines, iron
railways, development of major transportation
Why are cities typically located where they are? How has this changed over time? Provide an
example.
- city's location with respect to its site and its situation. A city's site refers to its physical location
and the characteristics of that location, such as being at the head of a bay or estuary, at a
strategic river crossing, and so on. The city's situation refers to its location relative to others.
- we often think of how accessible a city is
Can you use central place theory to explain the location of different levels of hockey teams
throughout Canada? (pp. 271-273).
The range for parents taking their kids to house league hockey practices and games is much
smaller (perhaps a few kilometres) than the range for people attending a National Hockey
League (NHL) game (perhaps 100 km). Similarly, the threshold is much smaller for a house
league association (perhaps a few thousand families) when compared to a rep team (perhaps
10,000 families) and an NHL team (perhaps a million people).
What key characteristics of Toronto clearly define it as the pinnacle of Canada's urban
hierarchy? (p. 274)
- It is home to more corporate head offices than anywhere else in Canada.
- It is the financial and insurance capital of the country.
- It is the telecommunications and media heart of the country.
