Module Details
Principal Investigator
Prof. Dr. Sanjukkta Bhaduri
Professor, Urban Planning, School of Planning and Architecture, New
Delhi
Paper Coordinator
Prof. Dr. Sanjukkta Bhaduri
Content Writer
Prof. Dr. Sanjukkta Bhaduri
Content Reviewer
Prof. Kavas Kapadia
Former Dean, Urban Planning, School of Planning and Architecture,
New Delhi
Subject Name
City & Metropolitan Planning
Module Title
Evolution of Settlements Part 1
Objectives
•
Paleolithic/Mesolithic Period
•
Neolithic Period
•
River Valley Civilization
1.
Introduction
This module presents the origins of settlement planning around the world, especially focusing on
the planning philosophy and ideas introduced by humans at different era which led to the evolution
of settlements from being a cluster of houses to complex modern cities that we have today. More
broadly, over the longer historical span, scholars have evidently witnessed the very evolution of
urbanization at different scales serving differently for different regions/climate/people etc. as per
their need with the extent of use of invention of technology and governance possible at the specific
periods and also how the progressive next settlements learnt from the mistakes/advancements of
the previous and evolved. Historically, urban centers have grown up due to various factors, this
module elaborates those factors and draws a clear picture of the background of the modern
scenario.
There are in together seven modules describing this very process of evolution at different phases;
MODULE 1.
1.1.Before Christ Era (Part I)
1.1.1.
Prehistoric settlements
–
Paleolithic/ Mesolithic
1.1.2.
Neolithic Era settlements
1.1.3.
River Valley civilizations
MODULE 2.
1.2.Before Christ Era (Part II)
1.2.1.
Aegean Civilization (3000
–
338 BCE)
1.2.2.
Empire of Alexander the Great (338
–
324 BCE)
1.2.3.
Mauryan Empire (322
–
184 BCE)
MODULE 3.
1.3.After Christ Era (Part III)
1.3.1.
Gupta Empire (320
–
550 ACE)
1.3.2.
Roman Empire (27
–
476 ACE)
1.3.3.
Medieval Europe (5
th
–
15
th
Century)
MODULE 4.
1.4.After Christ Era (Part IV)
1.4.1.
Islamic Period (7
th
–
13
th
Century)
1.4.2.
Mughal Period 8
th
Century)
1.4.3.
Ottoman Empire (13
th
Century)
1.4.4.
Byzantine Empire (14
th
Century)
MODULE 5.
1.5.After Christ Era (Part V)
1.5.1.
Renaissance (14
th
Century)
1.5.2.
Baroque (1600
–
1750 ACE)
1.5.3.
Meso American (2000 BCE - 1600 ACE)
MODULE 6.
1.6.Colonial Period
–
Global (Part I)
1.6.1.
Colonial America
1.6.2.
Colonial Africa
1.6.3.
Colonial East Asia (excluding India)
MODULE 7.
1.7.Colonial Period
–
Indian (Part II)
1.7.1.
French Colonization
1.7.2.
Portuguese Colonization
1.7.3.
Danish Colonization
1.7.4.
British Colonization
1.7.5.
Spanish Colonization
This paper will cover MODULE 1.
1.
History of Settlements - Before Christ Era (BCE)
a.
Introduction
Most of the people in history led a nomadic life
—
hunting animals and gathering edible plants for
food. The first pre-condition for urban development is a favorable ecology. Climate change at the
end of the Ice Age led to the receding of glaciers, people congregated in warm regions with fertile
soil. The second precondition for sedentary life is the availability of food at the place of settlement.
