Human populations accept tended to increment over time. As more than people were born, minor groups of individuals plant reasons to come together to form groups and, with the appearance of agriculture, small sedentary communities. A small number of these settlements grew into what we at present call cities. This kind of growth oft corresponds with a shift from ane way of organizing labor to some other.

The world population has grown significantly, and our economies have become more industrialized over the past few hundred years, and as a issue many more people have moved into cities. This process is known equally urbanization. Even later cities emerged, even so, a big majority of people lived and worked in rural areas. It was not until large-scale industrialization began in the eighteenth century that cities really began to blast. Virtually one-half of all people at present live in urban areas. They are attracted by jobs in manufacturing and the professions, too as by increased opportunities for pedagogy and amusement.

Urbanization is often discussed in reference to countries that are currently in the process of industrializing and urbanizing, but all industrialized nations have experienced urbanization at some point in their history. Moreover, urbanization is on the rise all over the globe.

Ane issue of this huge increase in people living in urban areas is the ascension of the megacity, which is a city that has more than 10 million inhabitants. At that place are now cities with even more than than that. Tokyo, Japan, for example, has nigh 40 1000000 residents. Another effect of urbanization is urban sprawl. Urban sprawl is when the population of a city becomes dispersed over an increasingly large geographical expanse. This movement from higher density urban cores to lower density suburbs means that as cities expand, they oft begin to take up significant tracts of land formerly used for agriculture. Sprawl also increases the need for travel infrastructure, such as roads, because people'south homes are likely to exist further away from where they work and the amenities they enjoy.

As we move forward in the 21st century, the global population is likely to continue growing. Urban areas will proceed to abound with the population. This continual growth presents complex challenges as we prepare for the cities of the future. How we cull to manage urbanization will have consequences for our world for many years to come.

Urbanization

With more than 40 1000000 residents, Tokyo, Japan, is a megacity. Another effect of urbanization is urban sprawl.

Substantive

the fine art and scientific discipline of cultivating land for growing crops (farming) or raising livestock (ranching).

city

Noun

large settlement with a high population density.

industrialization

Noun

growth of auto production and factories.

megacity

Noun

urban area of more than than 10 million people characterized by rapid growth, unpredictable population distribution, formal and informal economies, and loftier levels of social fragmentation.

population

Substantive

total number of people or organisms in a particular surface area.

rural

Adjective

having to do with state life, or areas with few residents.

urban

Describing word

having to do with metropolis life.

Noun

process in which there is an increase in the number of people living and working in a city or metropolitan area.

urban sprawl

Noun

unplanned low-density development surrounding an urban area that often starts as rural country. Besides chosen suburban sprawl.

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    Director

    Tyson Brown, National Geographic Society

    Writer

    National Geographic Lodge

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    Jeanna Sullivan, National Geographic Guild

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    Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Club
    Margot Willis, National Geographic Lodge

    Producer

    Clint Parks

    Last Updated

    Oct. 22, 2019

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