Settlement Patterns

Focus Question: What influences settlement patterns?

Around 10,000 years ago, people in the Middle East discovered they could plant seeds
to grow their own food. Seeds meant that agriculture could be introduced. If agriculture was
available, people no longer needed to roam in search of food. As people began to settle in one
location and survive on agriculture, settlements began to form.
In some areas, agriculture became especially successful. Agriculture was most
successful in places such as the river valleys of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, and China. These
places had fertile soil due to the annual flooding of rivers, fertile soil led to plentiful harvests.
Fertile soil led to plentiful harvests, and plentiful harvests led to the establishment of cities.
People were now able to grow a large amount of food, which meant that others did not have to
work farming, and instead could work in the cities as scribes, craftspeople, and traders. As
cities grew, there was a need for government.
Urbanization was later impacted by the Industrial Revolution (1700s), bringing more
people to the city in search of jobs in the new factories. People no longer needed to live in the
countryside and survive on agriculture, soon settlements (towns and cities) began to be built
around factories. Cities were also located at strategic points where goods were traded
(examples: where rivers met, ports, railroad lines).
Geographical features also influence where people live. People tend to gather around
ports, fresh water sources, oceans, or rivers with access to the ocean. In fact, two-thirds of the
world’s population today live within 500 miles of the ocean.
Much of the Earth is unfriendly to human habitation (dwelling/living). Eight of the 10
largest cities are on or near earthquake faults. People tend not to settle in extremely dry, wet,
cold, or mountainous areas. Most people tend to settle in low-lying areas with fertile soil and a
mild climate.
Human factors also affect where people settle. People tend to settle in areas near a
capital city, or in a central location, due to the need for transportation and proximity
(closeness). However, technology has begun to change this. As technology has improved,
people have begun to explore and settle in new areas, despite geographical barriers. The
United States is a great example of how resources have influenced settlers. In the colonial

HISD Social Studies Curriculum 2017 World Geography Studies

 Settlement Patterns

period, thousands sought out the natural resources available in the New World, and later the
discovery of silver, gold, and oil impacted the settlement of the West.
Settlement patterns sometimes change over time. As areas urbanize, surrounding areas
attract new settlers. The discovery of new resources or the construction of new transportation
routes can also encourage new settlement.
Adapted from - Mastering the TEKS - Jarrett

List of #1s

Summarize what influences settlement patterns.

_IT talk about people from the middle east discovered some plants seeds and new resources a
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HISD Social Studies Curriculum 2017 World Geography Studies