Urban Geography

Unit Outline

I.  Concepts of Urbanization
	A.  Definition of an Urban Area
	B.  Commonalities and Characteristics of Urbanization

II.  Origin and Evolution of Cities
	A.  Creation Theories
	B.  Function and Location
	C.  Diffusion of Urbanization
	D.  Models of Modern Cities
		1.  Land Use Theory
		2.  Concentric Zone Theory
		3.  Sector Model
		4.  Multiple Nuclei Model

III.  Function of Cities
	A.  Define Urban Function- Offering Services
	B.  Classification by Service Offerings (instead of by size)
		1.  Hamlet (with services)
		2.  Town
		3.  City
		4.  Metropolis
		5.  Megalopolis (megacity)
	C.  Hinterland (De Blij's term) = Market Area (Rubenstein's Term) = Surrounding Service Area
		1.  Economic Reach (De Blij)
		2.  Centrality (De Blij)
		3.  Range (Rubenstein)
		4.  Threshold (Rubenstein)
	D.  Comparative Advantage of Regions
	E.  World Systems Theory
	F.  Gravity Model
	G.  Central Place Theory
IV.  Built Environment and Social Space
	A.  Central Business District
	B.  Suburbanization
	C.  Urban Realms
V.  Response to Urban Growth: Case Studies in Growth and Response
	A.  Mexico City (Latin American City) Larry Ford Model
	B.  Shanghai (Asian)
	C.  Paris and London (European)
	D.  African City
	E.  Moscow (A "ringed" city example)

Unit Projects

Agriculture Geography
Economic Geography
Political Geography
Population Geography

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