Population And Settlement
Class 7 | Social Science — Geography | Unit 3
Class 7 Unit 3 Geography
Unit -3
Population and Settlement
Learning Objectives
To know about human races and their classification
To learn about the different religions
To know about the major languages
To know about the favourable conditions for settlements
To understand the rural and urban settlements
To learn the classification of settlements
Population Geography is a study of demographic phenomena which includes natality, morality, growth rates etc., through both space and time. Increase or decrease in population indicates population distribution and growth. The study of movements and mobility of population is called migration.
The Races
Race has been defined as a biological grouping within the human species. The race is a group of people with more or less permanent distinguishing characteristics that are inherited. The most widely found human racial types are based on visual traits such as head shape, facial features nose shape, eye shape and colour, skin colour, stature, blood groups etc.,
The major world human races are
• Caucasoid
• Negroid
• Mongoloid
• Australoid
Caucasoid
Caucasoid is known as European race. This group is the one with fair skin and dark brown eyes, wavy hair and narrow nose. The Caucasoid are also found in Eurasia.
Do You Know?
Human geography is the study of Man and his surroundings to the natural environment
Negroid
Negroid have the dark eyes, black skin, black wooly hair, wide nose, long head, and thick lips. They are living in different parts of Africa.
Mongoloids
The mongoloid race is commonly known as the Asian-American race. The mongoloid have the light yellow to brown skin, straight hair, flat face, broad head and medium nose. Such people are found in Asia and Arctic region
Australoids
Australoids have wide nose, curly hair dark skin, and short in height. They are living in Australia and Asia.
Races of India
India is said to be one of the cradle lands of human civilization. The ancient Indus valley civilization in India is believed to have been of Dravidian origin in northern India. The Dravidian people were pushed south when the Indo-Aryan came in later. South India was dominated by the three Dravidian kingdoms of the Chera, the Cholas, and the Pandyas. The Dravidian languages are Tamil, Telugu, kannada, Malayalam and Tulu almost all the Dravidians live in southern part of India.
Religion
Religion means a particular system of faith and worship, which brings human being with human society. Religion, is a symbol of group identity and a cultural rallying point.
Classification of Religion
a) Universalizing Religions
Christianity, Islam and Buddhism.
b) Ethnic Religions
Judaism, Hinduism and Shintoism.
c) Tribal or Traditional Religions
Animism, Shamanism and Shaman.
| Religion | Place of worship |
|---|
| Buddhism | Vihara |
| Christianity | Church |
| Hinduism | Temple |
| Islam | Mosque |
| Jainism | Basadi |
| Judaism | Synagogue |
| Zorostrianism | Agiyari |
Language
Language is a great force of socialization. Language, either in the written or oral form, is the most common type of communication. Language promotes the transmission of ideas and the functioning of political, economic, social and religious systems.
Major Languages in the world
• Tamil
• Hindi
• Chinese
• English
• Spanish
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Arabic
• German
Languages of India
India has many languages and culture. Each state has its own language. 22 major languages were recognised by Indian Constitution. Kashmiri, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Rajasthani, Gujarati, Bengali and Assamese are spoken in North India.
The main languages of the Dravidian family are Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam etc., These languages are mainly spoken in southern India.
| Date | Event |
|---|
| 11th July | World population day |
| 21st February | International mother language day |
| Third Sunday in January every year | World Religious day |
| 21st May | The World cultural diversity day |
Today usage of language has changed. It is often used as communicational skill. With the different means of communication and fast moving world advancement in technology helps in understanding the different languages very easily. These technologies have really brought the world closer.
Settlement
Settlement is a place where people live and interact through activities such as agriculture, trading and entertainment. A rural settlement is a community, involved predominantly in primary activities such as agriculture, lumbering, fishing and mining. An urban settlement engages in predominantly in secondary and tertiary activities, such as industries, trade and banking. A rural settlement tends to have a small population and low population density. Urban settlement often has a large population size and high population density.
Site and situation refers to the location of the actual settlement. The initial choice of a site for a settlement depends on how it is useful for meeting our daily needs, like water supply, availability of farmland, building material and fuel etc.,
Old House Types
In the early periods of human settlement, houses were built using local materials. The form of the house was closely related to the environment. In the agricultural regions, houses were built with mud walls and the roof was made of stalks of paddy (or) other crops of grass (or) thatch. Local wood was used to provide frame for the roof. Such old houses had wide verandahs and an open air circulation. The size of the house depended on the economic status of its inhabitants.
Patterns of Settlements
Settlements are classified into Compact settlements and Dispersed settlement
Compact settlements
Compact settlement is also known as nucleated settlement. In this type large number of houses are built very close to each other such settlement develop along the river valleys and fertile plains. In India compact settlements are found in the northern plains and the coastal plains of peninsular India.
Dispersed Settlements
Dispersed settlements are generally found in the areas of extreme climate, hilly tracts, thick forests, grasslands, areas of extensive cultivation. In these settlements, houses are spaced far apart and after interspersed with fields. In India this type of human settlement is found in the northern kosi tract, the Ganga delta ,the Thar Desert of Rajasthan and the foot hills of Himalayas and the Niligris.
Factors Influencing Rural Settlement
• Nature of topography
• Local weather Condition
• Soil and water resources
• Social organisation
• Economic condition
Pattern of Rural Settlement
The pattern of settlement has been defined as the relationship between a house or building to another. A rural settlement pattern is a function of relief, climate, water supply and socio-economic factor. It is broadly classified under the following patterns, such as Linear, Rectangular, Circular, Star like pattern etc.,
In a Linear settlement, houses are arranged along the either side of a roadways, railways line, river (or) canal,the edge of a valley, etc., e.g. settlements found in the Himalayas, the Alps, the Rockies.
The rectangular settlements are almost straight, meeting each other at right angles. Such a settlement is found in plain areas (or) inter montane plain. E.g., settlements found in Sutlej. Houses built around a central area are known as Circular pattern of settlements. Such settlement develop around lakes and tanks. The Star like pattern of settlement develops on the sites and places where one several roads converge and houses spread out along the sides of roads in all directions. e.g. The Namakkal urban settlements
Rural settlement
Rural settlements are predominantly located near water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and springs where water can be easily available. People choose to settle near fertile lands suitable for agriculture, along with the provision of other basic needs. Hence, they prefer to live near low lying river valleys and coastal plains suited for cultivation. The availability of building materials like wood, stone and clay near settlements is another advantage, for settlements to be built.
A hierarchy of settlements
Settlements are classified as:
Rural: Isolated, Hamlet, Village
Urban: Small market Town, City, Conurbation
Do You Know?
Pilgrim settlement may come up around a place of worship(or) any spot with a religious significance. E.g. settlements in Palani Hills, Tamil Nadu.
Wet Point Settlement
A wet point settlement is located near water sources in arid regions.
Dry Point Settlement
A dry Point settlement is located in low-lying areas in the regions of excessive dampness. Dry point settlements are not affected by flood or any other source of water. Such settlements are found in the coastal plains of Kerala and deltas along the east coast of India.
Urban Settlements
The settlements in which most of the people engaged in secondary and tertiary activities are known as urban settlements. Town, cities, and the areas of large cities are referred to as urban settlements urban areas.
Classification of Urban Settlements
The definition of urban area varies from one country to another. Some of the common basis of classification are
• Size of population
• Occupational structure
• Administration
Town
Town is a general name for an urban place, usually a settlement meeting a prescribed minimum population threshold. The settlement with a population more than 5000 people is called a town. Basis on the function cities can be classified into towns, such as administrative, cantonment, academic etc.,
City
The term City is generally applied to large urban places with a central business district. In India an urban place with more than one lakh population is considered as a city .
Mega city
A mega city is a very large city typically with a population of more than 10 million people. A mega city can be a single metropolitan area. E.g. Canton, Tokyo, Delhi, Mumbai are some of the examples of megacities.
Do You Know?
World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that among other things a healthy city must have
• A Clean" and "Safe" environment
• Meets the basic needs of "All" its inhabitants
• Involves the "Community" in local government
• Provides easily accessible "Health service.
Megalopolis
The word megalopolis is given to a large settlement which is formed by the combination of two or more large cities whose total population exceeds ten million. The region made up of cities between Boston and Washington D.C is a well-known megalopolis. In India, Kolkata is the largest urban area which is a megalopolis. Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot in Gujarat are the important megalopolis cities in India.
Conurbation
A Conurbation is a region comprising of a number of cities, large town, and other urban areas that through population growth and physical expansion have merged to form one continuous urban (or) industrially developed area. Mumbai in Maharashtra, Gurgaon, Faridabad in Haryana, Noida in Uttar Pradesh are the conurbation cities of India.
Satellite Town
A satellite town is a town designed to house the over population of a major city, but is located well beyond the limits of that city. Satellite towns are generally located outside the rural urban fringe. In India most satellite towns are purely residential in character.
Smart City
In an urban region, a city which is very much advanced in terms of infrastructure, real estate, communication and market availability is called a Smart City. The first ten smart cities of India are Bhubaneshwar, Pune, Jaipur, Surat, Ludhiana, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Jabalpur, Vishakappattinam, Solapur and Davanagere. Tamil Nadu has 12 major cities to be transformed as smart cities. They are Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tiruchirappalli ,Thanjavur, Tiruppur, Salem, Vellore, Coimbatore, Thoothukudi, Dindigul and Erode.
| Rural | Urban |
|---|
| Rural areas have predominantly primary activities (agriculture) | Urban areas have domination of secondary and tertiary activities (Industries) |
| Sparsely populated | Densely populated |
| Villages and hamlet | Cities and towns |
| Simple and relaxed life | Fast and complicated life |
Summary
Races has been defined as a biological grouping within the human species, distinguished or classified according to genetically transmitted differences.
Caucasoid Negroid Mangoloid Australoid are the major races.
Language is a cultural form of enduring value and a culture can survive with the presence of language only.
Settlement may be classified on basis of occupation as rural (village) and Urban (town).
Compact settlements develop along river valleys and fertile plains.
Dispersed settlement are generally found in the areas of extreme climates, hill tracks, thick forest, grassland and in poor agricultural land.
Smart city is a city which is very much advanced in terms of infrastructure.
Exercise I. Choose the correct answer
1. Caucasoid race is also known as __________ race
a) European b) Negroid c) Mangoloid d) Australoid
2. __________ Race is Known as Asian - American Race
a) Caucasoid b) Negroid c) Mongoloid d) Australoid
3. World population day __________
a) September 1 b) June 11 c) July 11 d) December 2
4. Rural settlements are located near __________
a) Water bodies b) Hilly areas c) coastal areas d) desert areas
5. Arrange the following in terms of size
1) City 2) Megalopolis 3) Metropolis 4) Conurbation
a) 4,1,3,2 b) 1,3,4,2 c) 2,1,3,4 d) 3,1,2,4 Exercise II. Fill in the blanks
1. The Bushmen is found mainly in desert of South Africa
2. Lingustic stock is a group of family sharing features and its origin
3. In settlements, where most of the people are engaged in secondary and tertiary activities
4. towns are generally located outside the rural Urban fringe.
5. Settlement Come up around a place of Worship
Exercise III. A. Match the following
| 1. Caucasoid | | Asian |
| 2. Negroid | | Australia |
| 3. Mongoloid | | European |
| 4. Australoid | | African |
Exercise III. B. Match the following
| 1. Sutlej-Ganga plain | | Dispersed settlement |
| 2. Nilgris | | Star like pattern |
| 3. South India | | Rectangular pattern |
| 4. Seacoast | | Compact settlement |
| 5. Haryana | | Circular settlement |
Exercise IV. Consider the following statement and (√) Tick the appropriate answer
1. Assertion (A): There are numerous languages spoken in the world
Reason (R): The linguistic diversity in the world is vast.
a) A and R are correct and R explains A. b) A and R are correct but R does not explain A. c) A is incorrect but R is correct. d) Both A and R are incorrect.
2. Assertion A: Palani Hills in Tamil Nadu is an example for pilgrim settlement
Reason (R): Iron and steel industry is located there
a) R is the correct explanation of A b) R is not the correct explanation of A c) A is wrong and R is correct A d) A is correct R is wrong Exercise V. Circle the odd one out
1. Fishing, lumbering, agriculture, banking
2. Himalayas, Alps, Rocky, Ganga
3. Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Kanchipuram
Exercise VI. Answer the following
1. What are the classification of Races?
2. What is language?
3. Define settlement
4. On what basis Urban settlements are classified?
5. Write a note on smart city
Exercise VII. Give reason
1. Mumbai is a mega city
2. Himalayas have dispersed settlement.
Exercise VIII. Distinguish between
1. Language and Religion
2. Negroid and Mangoloid
3. City and town
4. Urban settlement and rural settlement
Exercise IX. Answer the following in a paragraph
1. Write about the four major classification of races.
2. What are the factors influencing rural settlement?
3. What are types of rural settlement? Explain any three.
Exercise X. Activity
Analyze
1. Where do you live? Rural / Urban
2. Name the pattern of settlement
3. Sources of water available in your area
4. What is the important activity of your locality?
5. Name the types of transport available in your locality?
Reference Books
1. Dr. S.D Maurya (2016) cultural Geography, sharda pustak Bhawan publication, Allahabad.
2. R.Y. Singh (2007) Geography of settlements, Rawat publications, New Delhi
3. Majid Husain (2002) Human Geography, Rawat publications Jaipur and New Delhi.
Book-back Exercises — Questions & Answers
Answers generated strictly from the Samacheer Kalvi textbook content. Attempt each question first, then click "Show Answer" to check.
I. Choose the correct answer
1. Caucasoid race is also known as __________ race
a) European b) Negroid c) Mongoloid d) Australoid
Answer: a) European
Explanation: The chapter states that "Caucasoid is known as European race."
2. __________ Race is Known as Asian - American Race
a) Caucasoid b) Negroid c) Mongoloid d) Australoid
Answer: c) Mongoloid
Explanation: The chapter mentions that "The mongoloid race is commonly known as the Asian-American race."
3. World population day __________
a) September 1 b) June 11 c) July 11 d) December 2
Answer: c) July 11
Explanation: According to the chapter, "11th July World population day"
4. Rural settlements are located near __________
a) Water bodies b) Hilly areas c) coastal areas d) desert areas
Answer: a) Water bodies
Explanation: The chapter states that "Rural settlements are predominantly located near water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and springs where water can be easily available."
5. Arrange the following in terms of size 1) City 2) Megalopolis 3) Metropolis 4) Conurbation
a) 4,1,3,2 b) 1,3,4,2 c) 2,1,3,4 d) 3,1,2,4
Answer: b) 1,3,4,2
Explanation: Based on the definitions in the chapter: City (one lakh population), Metropolis, Conurbation (merged urban areas), and Megalopolis (combination of two or more large cities exceeding ten million).
II. Fill in the blanks
1. The Bushmen is found mainly in ___________ ___________ desert of South Africa
Answer: Refer to the chapter text for this answer.
2. Linguistic stock is a group of ___________ family sharing features and its origin
Answer: languages
3. In __________ settlements, where most of the people are engaged in secondary and tertiary activities
Answer: urban
4. __________ towns are generally located outside the rural Urban fringe.
Answer: Satellite
5. __________Settlement Come up around a place of Worship
Answer: Pilgrim
III. Match the Following
A. Match the following
| 1. Caucasoid | – Asian |
| 2. Negroid | – Australia |
| 3. Mongoloid | – European |
| 4. Australoid | – African |
Answers: 1-European, 2-African, 3-Asian, 4-Australia
B. Match the following
| 1. Sutlej-Ganga plain | – Dispersed settlement |
| 2. Nilgiris | – Star like pattern |
| 3. South India | – Rectangular pattern |
| 4. Seacoast | – Compact settlement |
| 5. Haryana | – Circular settlement |
Answers: 1-Rectangular pattern, 2-Dispersed settlement, 3-Compact settlement, 4-Compact settlement, 5-Rectangular pattern
IV. Consider the following statement and (√) Tick the appropriate answer
1. Assertion (A): There are numerous languages spoken in the world Reason (R): The linguistic diversity in the world is vast.
a) A and R are correct and R explains A. b) A and R are correct but R does not explain A. c) A is incorrect but R is correct. d) Both A and R are incorrect.
Answer: a) A and R are correct and R explains A.
Explanation: The chapter mentions that India has many languages and culture, indicating linguistic diversity globally.
2. Assertion A: Palani Hills in Tamil Nadu is an example for pilgrim settlement Reason (R): Iron and steel industry is located there
a) R is the correct explanation of A b) R is not the correct explanation of A c) A is wrong and R is correct d) A is correct R is wrong
Answer: d) A is correct R is wrong
Explanation: The chapter states that "Pilgrim settlement may come up around a place of worship(or) any spot with a religious significance. E.g. settlements in Palani Hills, Tamil Nadu."
V. Circle the odd one out
1. Fishing, lumbering, agriculture, banking
Answer: banking
2. Himalayas, Alps, Rocky, Ganga
Answer: Ganga
3. Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Kanchipuram
Answer: Kanchipuram
VI. Answer the following
1. What are the classification of Races?
Answer: The major world human races are Caucasoid, Negroid, Mongoloid and Australoid. These races are distinguished based on visual traits such as head shape, facial features, nose shape, eye shape and colour, skin colour, stature, blood groups etc.
2. What is language?
Answer: Language is a great force of socialization. Language, either in the written or oral form, is the most common type of communication. Language promotes the transmission of ideas and the functioning of political, economic, social and religious systems.
3. Define settlement
Answer: Settlement is a place where people live and interact through activities such as agriculture, trading and entertainment.
4. On what basis Urban settlements are classified?
Answer: The definition of urban area varies from one country to another. Some of the common basis of classification are size of population, occupational structure, and administration.
5. Write a note on smart city
Answer: In an urban region, a city which is very much advanced in terms of infrastructure, real estate, communication and market availability is called a Smart City. The first ten smart cities of India are Bhubaneshwar, Pune, Jaipur, Surat, Ludhiana, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Jabalpur, Vishakappattinam, Solapur and Davanagere.
VII. Give reason
1. Mumbai is a mega city
Answer: A mega city is a very large city typically with a population of more than 10 million people. Mumbai is mentioned as one of the examples of megacities, indicating it has a population exceeding 10 million.
2. Himalayas have dispersed settlement.
Answer: Dispersed settlements are generally found in the areas of extreme climate, hilly tracts, thick forests, grasslands, areas of extensive cultivation. The Himalayas have extreme climate and hilly terrain, which is why dispersed settlements are found there.
VIII. Distinguish between
1. Language and Religion
Answer: Language is a great force of socialization and the most common type of communication that promotes transmission of ideas. Religion means a particular system of faith and worship which brings human beings with human society and is a symbol of group identity and cultural rallying point.
2. Negroid and Mongoloid
Answer: Negroid have dark eyes, black skin, black wooly hair, wide nose, long head, and thick lips living in different parts of Africa. Mongoloid have light yellow to brown skin, straight hair, flat face, broad head and medium nose found in Asia and Arctic region.
3. City and town
Answer: Town is a general name for an urban place with population more than 5000 people. City is generally applied to large urban places with a central business district and in India an urban place with more than one lakh population is considered as a city.
4. Urban settlement and rural settlement
Answer: Rural settlement is a community involved predominantly in primary activities such as agriculture, lumbering, fishing and mining with small population and low population density. Urban settlement engages predominantly in secondary and tertiary activities such as industries, trade and banking with large population size and high population density.
IX. Answer the following in a paragraph
1. Write about the four major classification of races.
Answer: The four major world human races are Caucasoid, Negroid, Mongoloid and Australoid. Caucasoid is known as European race with fair skin, dark brown eyes, wavy hair and narrow nose found in Eurasia. Negroid have dark eyes, black skin, black wooly hair, wide nose, long head, and thick lips living in different parts of Africa. Mongoloid race is commonly known as Asian-American race with light yellow to brown skin, straight hair, flat face, broad head and medium nose found in Asia and Arctic region. Australoids have wide nose, curly hair, dark skin, and are short in height living in Australia and Asia.
2. What are the factors influencing rural settlement?
Answer: The factors influencing rural settlement are nature of topography, local weather condition, soil and water resources, social organisation, and economic condition. Rural settlements are predominantly located near water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and springs where water can be easily available. People choose to settle near fertile lands suitable for agriculture along with the provision of other basic needs.
3. What are types of rural settlement? Explain any three.
Answer: Settlements are classified into Compact settlements and Dispersed settlement. Compact settlement is also known as nucleated settlement where large number of houses are built very close to each other and develop along river valleys and fertile plains. Dispersed settlements are generally found in areas of extreme climate, hilly tracts, thick forests, grasslands where houses are spaced far apart and interspersed with fields. Rural settlement patterns include Linear settlement where houses are arranged along roadways, railways, river or canal; Rectangular settlements meeting at right angles found in plain areas; and Circular pattern where houses are built around a central area developing around lakes and tanks.
📝 Summary
- Population Geography studies demographic phenomena including natality, mortality, and growth rates, focusing on population distribution and migration patterns across space and time.
- The four major world human races are Caucasoid (European race with fair skin and wavy hair), Negroid (dark skin and wooly hair found in Africa), Mongoloid (Asian-American race with yellow to brown skin), and Australoid (found in Australia and Asia with dark skin and curly hair).
- Religions are classified into three types: Universalizing religions (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism), Ethnic religions (Judaism, Hinduism, Shintoism), and Tribal or Traditional religions (Animism, Shamanism).
- Major world languages include Tamil, Hindi, Chinese, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, and German, with India recognizing 22 major languages in its Constitution including both North Indian and Dravidian family languages.
- India's diverse racial heritage includes the ancient Dravidian civilization of the Indus Valley, with Dravidian people later moving south when Indo-Aryans arrived, establishing the three kingdoms of Chera, Cholas, and Pandyas in South India.