Types, patterns, and morphology of rural settlements

Human settlements, as clusters of people living in specific areas, range from small rural communities to vast urban metropolises. Settlements are vital for understanding how humans organize themselves geographically, economically, and socially. They not only reflect the physical environment but also reveal the historical, cultural, and social evolution of human life.

What is a Settlement?

A settlement refers to a community where people live, and it can range in size from a few dwellings to vast cities. It is a broad concept used in geography, archaeology, and statistics to define the spaces where people reside. Settlements include hamlets, villages, towns, cities, and larger urban spaces like metropolises and megalopolises. Settlements manifest a mix of environmental constraints and socio-economic conditions, influencing their size and structure.

• Settlements may range from small hamlets to large cities.
• It is not just about physical dwellings but also who resides there.
• Reflects socio-historic, cultural, and religious contexts.
• Settlements have evolved from nomadic herdsmen to established urban areas.

Types of Settlements

Rural Settlements

Rural settlements are typically small communities where people are primarily engaged in agriculture and other primary activities. These areas are defined by their sparse population, simple social structure, and close connection to the natural environment.

• Size: Smaller, sparsely spaced dwellings.
• Economic Activities: Mostly primary activities like farming and resource extraction.
• Social Relationships: Static and rigid, with strong ties among community members.
• Dependency on Urban Areas: Provide raw materials and food to urban centers.

Factors Influencing Rural Settlements:

1. Physical Factors:
   • Nature of topography: Flat lands are more favorable for settlements than mountainous regions.
   • Local weather and soil quality: Fertile soil and suitable climate are essential for agriculture.
   • Landholding patterns: Large landholdings may result in sparse settlements.
2. Human Factors:
   • Social organization: The social hierarchy and customs influence the layout and size of the settlement.
   • Economic conditions: Wealthier communities may have more developed rural areas.

Urban Settlements

Urban settlements are larger, more densely populated areas with a focus on secondary and tertiary activities like manufacturing and services. These settlements act as hubs for economic growth and social development.

• Size: Larger and more densely populated than rural areas.
• Economic Activities: Involvement in secondary (industrial) and tertiary (services) activities.
• Social Relationships: Complex and dynamic, with formal social structures.
• Urban Centers: Provide goods, services, and act as economic nodes.

Rural vs. Urban Settlements

The distinction between rural and urban settlements can be made using several criteria:

1. Morphology: Urban areas feature tall buildings, wide roads, and recreational centers, while rural areas have simpler, more spread-out structures.
2. Functionality: Rural settlements focus on primary activities like agriculture, whereas urban areas engage in secondary and tertiary activities such as manufacturing and services.
3. Demography: Urban areas have higher population density and compact settlements, while rural areas are sparsely populated.
4. Cultural Traits: Urban areas exhibit class stratification, while rural areas often display more prominent caste and religious distinctions.
5. Infrastructure: Urban areas have advanced economic and social infrastructure, including transportation, education, health, and communication facilities, compared to rural areas.

Categories of Settlements

Hamlet

A hamlet is the smallest form of settlement, typically smaller than a village and often without a church or commercial center. It is a cluster of houses with minimal infrastructure, primarily residential.

• Smaller than a village, without commercial or religious institutions.
• A simple community with only basic living arrangements.

Village

A village is larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town, often engaged in agriculture and other primary activities. In some countries, villages represent traditional forms of human communities, with strong cultural and social ties.

• Population ranges from a few hundred to a few thousand.
• Strongly connected to subsistence agriculture and traditional living.
• In India, 68.84% of the population lives in villages (Census 2011).

Rurban

The term “Rurban” describes settlements in a transitional phase between rural and urban. These areas retain characteristics of rural life but also exhibit elements of urban development, such as improved infrastructure and social organization.

• Transitional area between rural and urban.
• Governed by local Gram Panchayats.
• Population ranges from 5,000 to 10,000 people.

Town

A town is a medium-sized settlement that serves as a link between villages and cities. Towns typically have a population of 5,000 to 20,000 people, with some reaching up to 100,000. They have a more developed infrastructure compared to villages, with educational, administrative, and economic functions.

• Population ranges from 5,000 to 100,000.
• Often serves as regional hubs for trade and administration.

City

Cities are large settlements that provide housing, transportation, sanitation, and other essential services to their population. Cities have a population of over 100,000 and may reach up to a million people. They are centers of trade, commerce, and industry.

• Population ranges from 100,000 to 3 million.
• Advanced infrastructure and significant economic activities.
• Serve as important administrative and cultural hubs.

Metropolis

A metropolis is a large city or group of cities that serve as an economic, political, and cultural center. With a population between 1 and 3 million, metropolises are important hubs of regional and international connections.

• Population of 1 to 3 million.
• Significant in terms of commerce and international relations.

Megalopolis

A megalopolis is a vast network of adjacent metropolitan areas that merge into a large urban region. This term was popularized by Jean Gottmann in 1961 and refers to an extensive, continuous urban landscape.

• Defined as a chain of closely linked metropolitan areas.
• Population may range from 10 to 25 million people.

Primate City

A primate city is the largest city in a country or region, often much larger than any other cities in that area. These cities are disproportionately influential in terms of economy, politics, and culture.

• Mark Jefferson’s definition: A primate city is at least twice the size of the next largest city.
• Examples: London, Paris, and Buenos Aires.

Morphology of Rural Settlements

The morphology of rural settlements refers to the physical and social layout of villages and small communities. It encompasses the internal structure and spatial organization of rural areas, reflecting the way houses, roads, and social structures are arranged. Understanding rural settlement morphology helps reveal the influence of physical geography, cultural traditions, and economic factors in shaping these settlements.

What is Rural Morphology?

Rural morphology is the study of the layout, structure, and organization of rural settlements. It includes the physical aspects of how the roads, lanes, and houses are arranged, as well as the social dynamics that determine the settlement’s social hierarchy and structure.

• Physical Morphology: Refers to the physical layout, including roads, lanes, and house arrangements.
• Social Morphology: Refers to the social structure, including caste, class, and social functions within the village.

Physical Morphology of Rural Settlements

Road to Lane Relationship

The arrangement of roads and lanes in rural settlements is a key element in understanding their morphology. In many rural areas, roads connect villages with main transportation routes, while lanes serve as internal pathways within the settlement.

• Roads: Connect the village to the outside world and facilitate transportation.
• Lanes: Serve as internal passageways within the village. In Indian villages, lanes are often narrow, meandering, and end abruptly, while in planned villages like those in the UK, lanes may be arranged in a more structured, cruciform pattern with 90-degree intersections.

Lane to Lane Relationship

The relationship between lanes describes how the lanes within a village connect and intersect. This geometrical arrangement impacts the overall structure and flow of the village.

• Indian Villages: Lanes are typically narrow, unplanned, and often end abruptly.
• Planned Villages: In places like the UK, lanes are systematically planned and intersect at 90-degree angles.

Lane to House Relationship

The layout of lanes influences how houses are built and arranged within a rural settlement. Houses often grow along the lanes, forming the settlement’s shape and structure.

• Unplanned Lanes: In unplanned settlements, the arrangement of houses often determines the lane structure.
• House Placement: Houses tend to cluster along the main lanes in rural settlements.

House to House Relationship

The spacing and arrangement of houses is a significant factor in rural morphology. In many villages, houses are not arranged in a strict geometrical pattern, but rather grow organically based on social and cultural factors.

• Clustering: Houses are often unevenly spaced and clustered together, especially in socially stratified villages.
• Type of Houses: Houses range from pucca (well-built) to kutcha (temporary), and older homes often have poor ventilation with windows positioned high on the walls.
• Caste-based Clustering: In some cases, the clustering of houses reflects caste divisions, with higher-caste homes located in more desirable areas and lower-caste homes on the outskirts.

Social Morphology of Rural Settlements

Social Structure and Hierarchy

The social structure of rural settlements plays a key role in their morphology. The arrangement of houses, streets, and community spaces often reflects the social hierarchy of caste and class within the village.

• Caste System: In many Indian villages, the caste system influences the layout. Higher-caste homes are often larger and more centrally located, while lower-caste people tend to live in smaller, more peripheral homes.
• Social Roles: The division of labor, untouchability (though less prominent today), and social prohibitions on women’s work also affect village layout.
• Jajmani System: This traditional system of mutual support between castes often shapes village life, with lower castes providing essential services to the upper castes.

K. N. Singh’s Model: Religious Ritual and Secular Dominance

K. N. Singh’s model of rural morphology emphasizes the division between religious and secular dominance in settlements. The model highlights the presence of twin settlements: one for caste Hindus and another for outcastes or lower-caste people.

• Twin Settlement Development: Caste Hindus and outcastes often lived in separate parts of the village, with lower castes relegated to the less desirable areas on the outskirts.
• Wind Direction: Lower-caste homes were frequently located in directions that were thought to carry “polluted” air away from the main settlement, reflecting social prejudices of the time.

Doxiadis’ Classification of Rural Morphology

Doxiadis made one of the earliest attempts to classify rural settlements based on their internal structure. His classification divides rural settlements into four sectors, each representing a different level of social and physical organization.

Homogenous Sector (Village Core)

The core of the village is the most central and densely populated area. It often includes important community features like religious sites, water sources, and the homes of village leaders or zamindars (landowners).

• Components: Religious site, water body, community land, zamindar’s house.
• Social Structure: This area is typically surrounded by homes of the zamindar’s caste, reflecting patriarchal society and security concerns.
• Density: The village core is the most congested part of the settlement.

Transitional Zone

The transitional zone is where village servicemen, such as blacksmiths, goldsmiths, and milkmen, reside. This area is less densely populated than the village core but is still closely linked to the central part of the village.

• Occupants: Servicemen like weavers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, and others.
• Social Structure: This zone often mixes middle-caste individuals with poorer upper-caste families.

Circulatory Part

The circulatory part of the village is its outer periphery, where new houses and settlers tend to live. This area grows as people move outward from the village core due to congestion.

• New Settlements: Migrants or new settlers who moved outward due to overcrowding in the core.
• Mixed Social Structure: This zone often has mixed land use and a diverse social structure.

Special Part

The special part is located outside the main village and is typically occupied by landless laborers, often from lower castes. These people live close to the farmlands where they work.

• Occupants: Landless laborers, often from lower castes.
• Location: Close to farmlands for easier access to work opportunities.
• Social Segregation: Reflects the economic and social stratification within the village.

Conclusion

The types, patterns, and morphology of rural settlements are shaped by both physical geography and social structures. Rural settlements vary from hamlets and villages to rurban areas, characterized by their size, spatial organization, and the economic activities of the population. The layout of roads, lanes, and houses often reflects unplanned growth, influenced by caste hierarchies and local traditions. Patterns range from linear and clustered settlements to dispersed ones, with each influenced by factors such as topography, landholding, and cultural norms. Together, these aspects provide a comprehensive understanding of the development and organization of rural life.

1. Analyze the major differences between rural and urban settlements in terms of their social structure and economic activities. (250 words)
2. Discuss the impact of caste hierarchy on the physical arrangement of rural settlements. How does it shape the morphology of villages? (250 words)
3. Evaluate the contribution of Doxiadis’ classification to understanding the internal structure of rural settlements. (250 words)