Chapter 2: Human Settlments Class 12| Geography Notes

Class 12 Geography Notes: These Geography Class 12 notes on Chapter 2: Human Settlements are really helpful for students preparing for their CBSE board exams. It covers important topics like rural and urban settlements, types of settlements, and factors that influence where people live.

They’re easy to understand and provide all the key information students need to know. With these notes, students can study effectively and feel confident when answering exam questions. They’re a great resource for students aiming to do well in their Geography exams.

Human Settlements

Human Settlement refers to a gathering of houses and structures where people live. These settlements can vary in size and type, ranging from small hamlets to sprawling metropolitan cities.

• The size and type of settlement influence its economic activities, social structure, ecology, and technology.

• Villages, characterized by small and scattered settlements, often specialize in agriculture or primary activities.

• In contrast, urban settlements are fewer but larger, focusing on secondary and tertiary activities such as manufacturing and services.

• The distinction between rural and urban settlements lies in their economic activities and social characteristics.

• Rural settlements primarily rely on land-based activities for sustenance, while urban settlements depend on the processing of raw materials and the provision of various services.

• Rural and urban settlements differ in their social dynamics. Rural communities tend to have closer-knit social relations due to lower mobility and a simpler way of life.

• In contrast, urban areas are characterized by a fast-paced lifestyle, leading to more formal social interactions and a complex social structure.

Types of Rural Settlement

The types of settlements in India depend on factors like how close the houses are to each other and the overall size of the area they cover.

In many parts of India, you’ll find compact, clustered villages with several hundred houses, especially in the flat northern plains. However, different areas have different types of rural settlements, influenced by various factors:

• Physical Features: This includes things like the shape of the land, how high up it is, the weather, and how much water is available.

• Cultural and Ethnic Factors: Social structures, caste systems, and religious beliefs can also shape how settlements are organized.

• Security: Some settlements might be arranged in certain ways to protect against theft or robbery.

Rural settlements in India can be grouped into four main types:

1. Clustered: These villages have houses close together, forming a central area.
2. Semi-clustered: In these settlements, houses are somewhat close together but may also be spread out.
3. Hamleted: Hamlets are small groups of houses, often found in quieter areas.
4. Dispersed: Houses in dispersed settlements are spread far apart, common in remote regions with plenty of space.

Clustered Settlements:

• In this type of settlement, houses are closely packed together, sometimes with no space between them.

• The living area is distinct and separated from the surrounding farmland, barns, and pastures.

• These settlements may exhibit recognizable patterns or shapes like rectangular, radial, or linear, especially in fertile alluvial plains and the northeastern states.

• Various reasons lead to the formation of clustered settlements. For example, in Bundelkhand and Nagaland, people live in such settlements for defence and security reasons, while in Rajasthan, they are built around or near water resources due to water scarcity.

Semi-Clustered Settlements:

• This type of settlement develops when houses concentrate in a limited area within a dispersed settlement or due to the segregation or fragmentation of a larger compact village.

• Here, a dominant community may occupy the most important part of the main village, forcing other communities to live separately. This is common in the plains of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Hamleted Settlements:

• These settlements form due to social or ethnic factors, each having its own identity and name, such as panna, para, nagla, dhani, etc.

• Each hamlet is a distinct unit with several houses, and multiple hamlets together form a village. This pattern is found in the middle and lower Ganga Plains, Chhattisgarh, and the lower valleys of the Himalayas.

Dispersed Settlements:

• This type of settlement consists of isolated huts or small groups of huts scattered in remote jungles or on small hills, often with nearby farms or pastures.

• These houses may be temporary dwellings. Dispersed settlements are found in Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, etc.

Urban Settlements

Unlike rural settlements, urban settlements are denser, more compact, and larger. People in urban areas are mainly involved in non-agricultural activities such as industries, services, administrative functions, etc.

Cities and towns are interconnected directly or indirectly with villages and with each other. They engage in the exchange of goods, services, and commuting.

Evolution of Towns in India

The evolution of towns in India traces back to prehistoric times, evidenced by ancient settlements like Harappa and Mohenjodaro. Over the centuries, Indian towns have evolved in different periods, classified into three main groups:

Ancient Towns:

These towns emerged over 2000 years ago as religious and cultural centres under various kings. Examples include Varanasi, Prayag (Allahabad), Pataliputra (Patna), and Madurai.

Medieval Towns:

Developed as the headquarters of principalities and kingdoms by medieval rulers, these towns, numbering around 100, were often fortified and built upon the ruins of ancient settlements. Examples are Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Agra, and Nagpur.

Modern Towns:

• Constructed by the British and other Europeans, modern towns in India can be categorized into several groups:
• Port Towns: Located along the coastal areas, such as Surat, Daman, Goa, and Puducherry.
• Administrative Towns: Established for administrative purposes, including Mumbai (Bombay), Chennai (Madras), and Kolkata (Calcutta).
• Industrial Towns: Developed post-1850, like Jamshedpur.
• Other Towns: These include hill stations for summer retreats, military towns, and small administrative centres.

Towns after Independence:

Following Independence, new towns emerged for various purposes:

Administrative Headquarters or State Capitals: Examples are Chandigarh, Bhubaneshwar, Gandhinagar, and Dispur.

• Industrial Centers: Towns like Durgapur, Bhilai, Sindri, and Barani witnessed industrial growth.
• Satellite Towns: Developed around metropolitan cities to accommodate urban expansion, such as Ghaziabad, Rohtak, and Gurgaon (Gurugram).

Medium and Small Towns: Evolving due to increased investment in rural areas.

Urbanisation in India

Urbanization refers to the shift of rural inhabitants to urban areas, measured by the proportion of urban population to the total population. In India, urbanization is relatively low, standing at only 28% in 2001.

Despite this, urbanization in India has seen significant growth, increasing 11-fold during the twentieth century. However, the pace of urbanization has slowed down in the recent two decades.

Functional Classification of Towns

Some towns and cities specialise in certain functions and they are known for some specific activities, products or services. Based on their dominant or specialized functions, Indian cities and towns can be broadly classified as follows:

• Administrative Towns and Cities: These towns house administrative headquarters of higher orders, like Chandigarh, New Delhi, Bhopal, and Srinagar.
• Industrial Towns: Cities where industries play a crucial role, such as Mumbai, Salem, and Jamshedpur.
• Transport Cities: These may be ports primarily engaged in export and import activities (e.g., Kochi, Vishakhapatnam) or hubs of inland transport (e.g., Agra, Mughalsarai).
• Commercial Towns: Cities specializing in trade and commerce, like Kolkata and Saharanpur.
• Mining Towns: Developed in mineral-rich areas, such as Raniganj, Digboi, and Singrauli.
• Garrison Cantonment Towns: Emerged as garrison towns, like Ambala and Jalandhar.
• Educational Towns: Centers of education, which have grown into major campus towns, such as Allahabad and Varanasi.
• Religious and Cultural Towns: Prominent due to their religious or cultural significance, like Varanasi, Amritsar, and Haridwar.
• Tourist Towns: Popular tourist destinations, such as Nainital, Mussoorie, and Jaisalmer.

Human Settlements Class 12 Geography Notes- FAQs

What is a human settlement?

A human settlement is any place where people live. It can range from small villages to large cities.

What factors influence the location of human settlements?

Several factors influence the location of human settlements, including availability of water, topography of the land, climate, soil fertility, accessibility, and presence of natural resources.

What are the different types of human settlements?

Human settlements can be classified into rural and urban settlements. Rural settlements include villages and hamlets, while urban settlements include towns and cities.

What are the characteristics of rural settlements?

Rural settlements are typically smaller in size and are located in rural areas, away from urban centers. They are characterized by agricultural activities, close-knit communities, and simpler infrastructure compared to urban areas.

What are the characteristics of urban settlements?

Urban settlements are larger in size and are characterized by higher population density, diverse economic activities such as industry and services, and more complex infrastructure including roads, utilities, and public services.