Transcript Urban Life
URBAN LIFE
Chapter 16, Section 2
THE EVOLUTION OF THE CITY
Urbanization= movement of people to cities
ending in large concentrations of people in
these areas.
City= permanent concentration of a relatively
large number of people who are engaged in
mainly non-farming activities.
Cities are nothing new… they have been around
for approximately 6,000 years. However,
urbanization is a new concept.
EARLY CITIES (CHARACTERISTICS)
Preindustrial city:
First appeared along Tigris and Euphrates
River
Lacked tools necessary to produce food to support
more people
Poor sanitation
Reliance on familial relationships
Industrial city:
Emerged with the Industrial Revolution
Greater area and larger population
More social less reliance on family
Today, over 75% of Americans live in urban areas
IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL AND
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTIONS
Agricultural Revolution:
Cultivation of grain
Domestication of animals
Development of basic agricultural technology
Allowed for surpluses in food for the first
time more specialized work.
Industrial Revolution:
-
Replacement of hand tools with machinery
New sources of energy (coal, water, steam)
-
People left countryside to cities to fill new
labor pools.
More advanced tech to transport/store food
PROBLEMS
In less-developed countries, cities that grow too
fast are characterized by overurbanization.
When more people live in cities than can be
supported in terms of jobs and facilities.
Example: Mexico City
Characteristics:
Inadequate housing and food supplies
Poor sewage disposal
Poor medical services
URBAN ECOLOGY
Urban ecology= method of studying cities in
which researchers examine the relationship
between people and their environment.
The layout of cities is not random,
sociologists argue. Three models have emerged
for the distinct ‘areas’ of cities:
Concentric Zone Model
Sector Model
Multiple Nuclei Model
CONCENTRIC ZONE MODEL
Proposed by sociologist Ernest W. Burgess
The industrial city spreads out from the center,
creating distinct zones.
SECTOR MODEL
Sociologist Homer Hoyt felt that Burgess’ model
did not take into account various forms of
transportation.
Transportation dictates land use.
These transportation routes extend the city.
MULTIPLE NUCLEI MODEL
Then the automobile came along… And with it,
a new model created by Chauncy Harris and
Edward Ullman.
There is not ONE central core, but many
centers of activity.
A CRITIQUE OF URBAN ECOLOGY
Some sociologists argue that the models are a bit
outdated.
One trend they do not reflect is urban sprawl.
Poorly planned development on the edge of cities
and towns.
Consumes large amounts of land and is used
inefficiently.
THEORIES TO EXPLAIN CITY LIFE
Urban anomie theory= city is anonymous and
unfriendly place; city discourages formation
of primary group relationships.
Louis Wirth
Subcultural theory= cities encourage
formation of primary group relationships;
can always find someone of similar interests in a
city.
Claude S. Fisher
THEORIES TO EXPLAIN CITY LIFE (CONT’D)
Compositional theory= great diversity of
people in a city leads to variation in
lifestyles.
5 lifestyles identified by Herbert J. Gans
Cosmopolites
Unmarried/childless
Ethnic villagers
Deprived
Trapped
URBAN RENEWAL
Programs meant to provide housing
opportunities for low-income families to
rebuild the economies of central cities.
When the suburbs developed, middle and upper class
families moved out of the cities.
Gentrification= upgrading of specific
neighborhoods in an attempt to encourage
the middle and upper classes to relocate to
the cities.
Pros higher property values; higher property taxes;
greater tax revenue
Cons high housing costs; drive out long-time
residents