evolutionofsettlements-110520050356-phpapp01.ppt
- 1. Origin and Evolution of Human Settlements Various Stages Man 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
- 2. 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.
- 3. 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 by them • Choose fertile lands and where water was available in plenty • Learned to build huts and mud houses
- 4. Origin and Evolution of Human Settlements Towards 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 and wander around for hunting animals - more as a pastime rather than as a necessity
- 5. 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
- 6. Origin and Evolution of Human Settlements Shifting 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 settled down at on place
- 7. Origin and Evolution of Human Settlements Food 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 multiply rapidly through the natural process
- 8. 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 he cultivated • 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 food gathering societies
- 9. Origin and Evolution of Human Settlements Favorable 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
- 10. Origin and Evolution of Human Settlements Why 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)
- 11. Origin and Evolution of Human Settlements Other 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
- 12. Community Structuring Division of Labour • As food became abundant, all the inhabitants were not required to work on the fields • Others thus began to practice various occupations • Working population got divided among farmers, cattle and poultry breeders, fishermen, shepherds craftsmen(carpenters, potters, painters, engravers, makers of tools, weapons and other implements), and weavers • Some engaged in taming and domestication of animals for bearing load, plough fields, protecting property and as source of milk, meat and wool
- 13. 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, weavers for cloth, potters for utensils, and craftsmen for tools and implements • Initially practiced within the community • Later as river and land routes developed for transportation, goods began to be exchanged across communities
- 14. 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 such goods 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.
- 15. 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 wild animals • After they began trading activity,they accumulated goods and became wealthy • They also accumulated knowledge as they traveled long distances and met many people • Their hold on the community increased and became quite powerful. One of them became a chieftain
- 16. Physical Structuring New 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
- 17. 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 being attacked by fellow human beings
- 18. Physical Structuring The Walled Settlements • The strife between the people of the same settlement later 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
- 19. New Community Structuring Subjugation of Peasants • The external threat brought forth the necessity of internal unity • Need for mutually defending themselves • But the new organization of the community was such that it resulted in the subjugation and exploitation of a large 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 to the community • Initially it could be described as the beginning of the taxation system that was perhaps willingly done
- 20. New Community Structuring • Placing more resources at the disposal of the Chieftain meant better equipped army and better protection for the community • Soon the beneficent role of the Chieftain was corrupted by his lust for power • As his resources increased and he became more powerful, 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
- 21. New Community Structuring Role of the Priests and New Physical Structuring • When use of physical power was not enough to ensure 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 - one who commanded a territory recognized as his kingdom • The castle grew into a fort and the shrine into a temple
- 22. 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
- 23. 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 caste categories • Community was not only divided into rich and poor but also caste managed
- 24. Civilization Language, 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
- 25. Urban Settlement Community Structure • Labour specialisation • New occupations – teachers, advocates, judges, government servants • New class of people – philosophers, scientists, administrators, political leaders, dramatists, sculpture artists, architects and town planners • Distinct social classes • Non-agricultural occupations expanded at a faster rate
- 26. 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
- 27. 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.
- 28. 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
- 29. New Physical Structuring Physical Form of Urban Settlement • Dwellings of the common people • Theatre, government offices, gymnasiums, judicial courts and institutions of higher learning (added during the Greek Period) • Networks of water supply, sewerage, drainage, transportation systems, bath houses, coliseums, and circuses (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