Human Settlements Class 10 Notes, Questions | SSC Geography
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This chapter studies human settlements, the places where people build homes and live together. It explains why settlements grow only in some places, the two main types of settlements, and where each type is found in India and Brazil. It then looks at urbanisation, the growth of towns and cities, and compares how urbanised the two countries are and why.
Summary
A human settlement is a group of dwellings where people live and carry out their activities. Settlements do not spread evenly over the earth. They grow where conditions suit human life and work. The most important factor is the availability of water, because water is needed for drinking, farming, animals, industry and transport. Other factors are the climate, the slope and nature of the land, the fertility of the soil and the level of development, including transport, industry and services. Places that offer all of these attract large, close-knit settlements, while places that lack them have few people.
Settlements are of two main types. In nucleated (concentrated or compact) settlements houses are built close together around a centre, such as a well, temple, market or road junction. They grow where land is level and fertile and water is easily available. In dispersed (scattered) settlements houses stand far apart, often on separate farms or small hamlets. They are found where water is scarce, the land is uneven, forests are dense or the climate is harsh.
In India, nucleated settlements are found in the plateau region of the Narmada Valley, in the paddy lands of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, on the Vindhyan Plateau and in other well-cultivated parts. Dispersed settlements are found in the tribal areas of central India, in eastern and southern Rajasthan, on the Himalayan slopes and on land with a dissected, uneven surface. In Brazil, most people live on the eastern coast and in the south-east, where water, fertile soil, minerals, power and transport are available. The Sao Paulo region has rich soil ideal for coffee and has grown into a huge nucleated urban settlement. Settlements are sparse in the north-eastern highlands, which suffer extreme droughts and are called the Drought Quadrilateral, and in the Amazon basin, which has dense forests, a hot and humid climate, heavy rainfall and poor transport.
Urbanisation means the growth in the share of a country's population living in towns and cities. It is linked with industrial growth, jobs in the secondary and tertiary sectors and better facilities in urban areas. Brazil is a highly urbanised developing country. Its urban population rose from 47.1% in 1960 to 84.6% in 2010, and today about 86% of Brazilians live in urban areas. Urban centres are concentrated along the east and south-east, while the northern Amazon states such as Para are the least urbanised. Manaus, a port at the confluence of the Negro and the Amazon, is an urban centre inside the thinly populated basin. To reduce crowding on the coast and regional imbalance, the Brazilian government is promoting the 'Go West' policy, which encourages development of the interior.
India has a long history of towns, and Pratishthan (today's Paithan) is one example of an early urban settlement. Yet India's level of urbanisation is still low: it was 31.16% in 2011, and most Indians live in villages. Goa is the most urbanised state, with about 62% of its people in urban areas. Urbanisation is greater in the southern part of India than in the northern part. In the north, apart from Delhi and Chandigarh, urbanisation is low. Delhi and Chandigarh lie on the flat Northern Plains, have assured water supply, good transport and modern facilities, and offer many jobs, so they are highly urbanised. Urbanisation in India is now increasing because of industrial growth, migration from villages to cities and the growth of new towns.
Factors affecting the location of settlements
1. Availability of water
- Water is the most important factor; early settlements grew along rivers, lakes and springs.
- River plains and deltas are densely settled; deserts and dry regions have few people.
- Example: the Ganga plains are crowded, while the Thar desert is thinly settled.
2. Climate
- Moderate, pleasant climates attract people.
- Very hot, very cold, very wet or very dry climates discourage settlement.
- Example: the extremely dry north-east of Brazil and the hot, wet Amazon basin are sparsely settled.
3. Slope and nature of land
- Level land is easy to farm and to build roads and houses on.
- Steep slopes, hills and dissected land support only small, scattered settlements.
4. Fertile soil and agriculture
- Fertile soil supports dense farming populations, as in the paddy lands of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
- Rich soil around Sao Paulo favoured coffee and drew settlers.
5. Level of development
- Industries, mines, trade, transport routes and services such as schools and hospitals attract people.
- Such places grow into towns and cities.
Types of settlements
| Point | Nucleated settlement | Dispersed settlement |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Houses are close together around a centre. | Houses are scattered, far from one another. |
| Land | Level, fertile, cultivable land. | Hilly, uneven or forested land. |
| Water | Easily and widely available. | Scarce or available only at a few points. |
| Size | Usually large; may grow into towns. | Usually small hamlets or isolated farms. |
| India | Narmada Valley plateau, paddy lands of Bihar and U.P., Vindhyan Plateau. | Tribal central India, eastern and southern Rajasthan, Himalayan slopes. |
| Brazil | South-east and eastern coast, for example the Sao Paulo region. | North-eastern highlands and the Amazon basin. |
Distribution of settlements: India and Brazil
| Point | India | Brazil |
|---|---|---|
| Dense settlement | Northern Plains (Ganga basin), coastal plains and deltas, cultivated plateaus. | Eastern coast and south-east (Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro region). |
| Sparse settlement | Thar desert, Himalayan slopes, forested and hilly tribal areas. | Amazon basin and the drought-hit north-eastern highlands. |
| Main reasons for density | Water, fertile alluvial soil, level land, farming and transport. | Water, fertile soil, minerals, power supply, ports and transport. |
| Main reasons for sparseness | Lack of water, rugged relief, harsh climate. | Dense forest, hot and humid climate, droughts, poor access. |
Ganga basin vs Amazon basin
| Ganga river basin | Amazon river basin |
|---|---|
| One of the most densely populated regions of India. | One of the most thinly populated regions of Brazil. |
| Fertile alluvial soil, ample water, level land and developed farming. | Dense evergreen forest, heavy rainfall, marshy land and leached soil. |
| Good network of roads and railways. | Transport mostly by rivers; few roads. |
| Mostly nucleated settlements. | Mostly dispersed settlements along river banks. |
Urbanisation: India and Brazil
| Point | India | Brazil |
|---|---|---|
| Level of urbanisation | Low: 31.16% in 2011. | High: about 86% today (84.6% in 2010). |
| Speed | Slow but steadily increasing. | Very rapid; 47.1% in 1960 to 84.6% in 2010. |
| Most urbanised areas | Goa (about 62%), southern states, Delhi and Chandigarh. | Eastern coast and south-east. |
| Least urbanised areas | Most of northern India outside Delhi and Chandigarh. | Northern Amazon states such as Para. |
| Spreading development | New towns are emerging as towns and cities expand. | 'Go West' policy to develop the interior. |
| Problems | Slums, housing shortage, traffic and pollution. | Slums, overcrowding and pollution in big coastal cities. |
Important terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Human settlement | A group of houses where people live and work together. |
| Nucleated settlement | A compact settlement with houses close together around a centre. |
| Dispersed settlement | A scattered settlement in which houses lie far apart. |
| Rural settlement | A village settlement where most people work in primary activities such as farming. |
| Urban settlement | A town or city where most people work in secondary and tertiary activities. |
| Urbanisation | The increase in the share of population living in urban areas. |
| Drought Quadrilateral | The dry, drought-prone north-eastern highland region of Brazil. |
| Go West policy | Brazil's policy of developing the interior to reduce pressure on coastal areas and regional imbalance. |
Key points to remember
- Availability of water is the main factor deciding where settlements grow.
- Fertile land, plenty of water and level land favour nucleated settlements; dense forest does not.
- Dispersed settlements in India: Himalayan slopes, tribal central India, eastern and southern Rajasthan.
- Dispersed settlements in Brazil: north-eastern highlands and the Amazon basin.
- Sao Paulo is an example of a nucleated settlement; its rich soil suits coffee.
- Manaus is a port at the confluence of the Negro and the Amazon.
- India's urbanisation in 2011: 31.16%; Goa is the most urbanised state (about 62%).
- In India, urbanisation is greater in the south than in the north.
- Brazil's urban population: 47.1% (1960), 84.6% (2010), about 86% today.
- Para is the least urbanised state of Brazil.
- Pratishthan, an early urban settlement, is today's Paithan.
Important questions and answers
Q1. Choose the correct option: Concentration of settlements is mainly related to ____. (a) proximity to the sea (b) plain region (c) availability of water (d) climate
(c) Availability of water.
Q2. Choose the correct option: Which state of Brazil has the least urbanisation? (a) Para (b) Amapa (c) Espirito Santo (d) Parana
(a) Para.
Q3. Choose the correct option: Dispersed settlements in India are found in ____. (a) river valleys (b) along transport routes (c) hilly areas (d) industrial regions
(c) Hilly areas.
Q4. Right or wrong: Manaus is a port on the confluence of the Negro and the Amazon.
Right. Manaus stands where the Negro meets the Amazon and is an urban centre within the thinly populated Amazon basin.
Q5. Give reason: Settlements are sparse in north-eastern Brazil.
The north-eastern highlands lie in a rain-shadow area and get very little rainfall, so they suffer extreme droughts and are called the Drought Quadrilateral. Water is scarce and farming is difficult, so only a few people can live there and settlements are sparse and scattered.
Q6. Give reason: Most of Brazil's population lives in the eastern coastal areas.
The eastern coast has good water supply, fertile soil suited to crops like coffee, minerals such as iron ore, steady power supply and good transport and ports. Farming, industry and trade have grown there, creating jobs, so most people live in this region.
Q7. Give reason: Urbanisation is increasing rapidly in India.
Industries and services are growing and create jobs in cities. Urban areas offer better water supply, electricity, health care and education. Many people therefore migrate from villages to cities, existing towns expand and new towns emerge, so the urban share of the population keeps rising.
Q8. Give reason: Except Delhi and Chandigarh, urbanisation is low in northern India.
Delhi is the capital with a long urban history, and Chandigarh is a planned city. Both lie on the level Northern Plains, have assured water supply, strong infrastructure, good transport and many industries and offices. Such opportunities are fewer in the rest of northern India, where most people still depend on farming.
Q9. Distinguish between settlements in the Ganga basin and the Amazon basin.
The Ganga basin is densely settled because of fertile alluvial soil, ample water, level land and good transport, and its settlements are mostly nucleated. The Amazon basin is thinly settled because of dense forests, a hot and humid climate, heavy rain and poor access, and its settlements are small and dispersed, mostly along rivers.
Q10. Write a comparative note on urbanisation in India and Brazil.
Brazil is highly urbanised: its urban share rose from 47.1% in 1960 to 84.6% in 2010 and is about 86% now, mainly along the east and south-east coast, while the Amazon north is least urbanised. India's urbanisation is low at 31.16% (2011) and has grown slowly; it is higher in southern states, Goa, Delhi and Chandigarh. Both countries face slums and crowding in big cities, and Brazil is trying to spread development inland through the Go West policy.
Q11. Why do human settlements grow only in specific locations?
Settlements need water, a suitable climate, level land, fertile soil and opportunities for work and transport. Only some places offer these together, so settlements concentrate there. For example, nucleated settlements grow in the Narmada Valley plateau and the paddy lands of Bihar and U.P., while hilly, dry or forested areas such as the Himalayan slopes and parts of Rajasthan have dispersed settlements.
Q12. Identify the odd one out: Factors favouring nucleated settlements: fertile land, plenty of water, level land, dense forest.
Dense forest. It makes clearing and movement difficult, so it leads to dispersed settlements.
Exam tips
- Learn the regions of nucleated and dispersed settlements in both countries; they are asked as MCQs and matching pairs.
- For give-reason questions, link each condition (water, climate, land, development) to its effect on settlement.
- Remember the key figures: India 31.16% (2011), Goa about 62%, Brazil 47.1% (1960) and 84.6% (2010).
- In comparison questions, write points in a table with matching rows for India and Brazil.
- Practise reading joint bar graphs of urban population; calculate differences in percentage points.
FAQs
What is the Drought Quadrilateral?
The dry north-eastern highland region of Brazil that suffers extreme droughts.
Which country is more urbanised, India or Brazil?
Brazil. About 86% of its people live in urban areas, against about 31% in India.
What is the Go West policy?
A Brazilian policy that develops the interior to reduce crowding on the coast and regional imbalance.
Which is the most urbanised state of India?
Goa, with about 62% of its population living in urban areas.