Embedded Files
What is Urbanization?
Urbanization is the process of large groups of people migrating to concentrated areas, resulting in the formation and development of large cities. https://www.britannica.com/topic/urbanization (source)
Living before the Industrial Revolution
Before the Industrial Revolution, most people on Earth lived in small rural communities with their lives primarily revolving around farming and growing their own food.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zm9r4xs#zd4p3qt (source)
Living during the Industrial Revolution
As people began to move from rural farms to cities in search of employment, rapid urbanization ensued. The need for labor in factories created more job opportunities, which was a significant factor in the migration from rural to urban areas.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zm9r4xs#zd4p3qt (source)
Population Change Causes Problems
Due to the large number of people moving into cities from the countryside, cities began to overflow with too many people and too little space. The city's infrastructure wasn't built to handle that many people, which resulted in insufficient housing, poor sanitation, pollution from factory emissions, and inadequate waste management. These factors contributed to the decline in people's health and quality of life due to urbanization. https://www.thoughtco.com/population-growth-and-movement-industrial-revolution-1221640 (source)
Solutions to Rapid Urbanization
Better city infrastructure, urban planning, public transport, and affordable housing are all solutions to rapid urbanization. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/urban-threats(source)
The Rise of Pollution
With the Industrial Revolution giving rise to urbanization, it also led to widespread pollution. Rapid urbanization led many people to relocate to cities in search of employment opportunities in factories. The factories burned coal to fuel their machines, releasing pollutants into the air. These pollutants included harmful toxins such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, commonly referred to as soot. https://greenly.earth/en-us/blog/ecology-news/what-was-the-industrial-revolutions-environmental-impact (source)
Overpopulation and Cities
With urbanization during the Industrial Revolution, cities experienced a population boom that often lacked the necessary infrastructure to accommodate the influx. This means that there is such a thing as too many people if they are grouped in areas that can't sustain the population.
Page updated
Report abuse