Urban Geography (Global Cities and Urbanization)

As a key subfield of human geography, urban geography investigates the spatial distribution, development, and structure of cities and urban areas. It examines the complex social, economic, and environmental processes that shape urban life, from the internal land use patterns and social landscapes of individual neighborhoods to the vast, interconnected systems of cities. A central theme is urbanization—the global process of population shift from rural to urban areas—and its consequences, alongside the study of global cities, which function as command centers in the world's economy and culture.

1. Introduction to Urban Geography
   1. Defining Urban Geography
      1. Scope and Core Questions
      2. Relationship to Human Geography
      3. Interdisciplinary Connections
         1. Urban Sociology
         2. Urban Economics
         3. Urban Planning
         4. Environmental Studies
         5. Political Science
         6. Architecture
   2. Fundamental Concepts
      1. The Urban Area
         1. Definitions and Criteria
         2. Urban vs. Rural Distinctions
         3. Administrative vs. Functional Definitions
      2. Site and Situation
         1. Physical Site Characteristics
         2. Relative Location and Connectivity
         3. Locational Advantages
      3. Urbanism as a Way of Life
         1. Social Behaviors in Urban Settings
         2. Urban Culture and Lifestyles
         3. Anonymity and Social Relations
      4. The Rural-Urban Continuum
         1. Gradations between Rural and Urban
         2. Peri-urban Areas
         3. Suburban Zones
   3. Historical Development of Cities
      1. The First Urban Revolution
         1. Agricultural Surplus and Specialization
         2. Early Urban Hearths
            1. Mesopotamia
            2. Indus Valley
            3. Ancient Egypt
            4. Yellow River Valley
            5. Mesoamerica
            6. Andean Region
         3. Characteristics of Early Cities
      2. Pre-Industrial Cities
         1. Medieval Urban Centers
         2. Trade and Mercantile Cities
         3. Religious and Administrative Centers
         4. Urban Form and Layout
      3. The Industrial Revolution and Urban Transformation
         1. Factory Towns and Industrial Cities
         2. Transportation Revolution
         3. Urban Infrastructure Development
         4. Social and Spatial Reorganization