APHG MODELS Von Thunen’s Model for Agriculture …the first to develop a basic analytical model of the relationships between markets, production, and distance!
Von Thunen Model …was created by farmer and amateur economist J.H. Von Thunen (1783-1850) in 1826 (but it wasn't translated into English until 1966). Von Thunen's model was created before industrialization and is based on the following limiting assumptions: The city is located centrally within an "Isolated State" which is self sufficient and has no external influences. The Isolated State is surrounded by an unoccupied wilderness. The land of the State is completely flat and has no rivers or mountains to interrupt the terrain. The soil quality and climate are consistent throughout the State. Farmers in the Isolated State transport their own goods to market via oxcart, across land, directly to the central city. Therefore, there are no roads. Farmers act to maximize profits.
•Von Thunen model -useful in discussions of land use -opens up discussions of contemporary agricultural patterns.
Von Thunen Model Von Thunen Model What farmers produce varies by distance from the town, with livestock raising farthest from town. Cost of transportation governs use of land. First effort to analyze the spatial character of economic activity.
Dairying and intensive farming occur in the ring closest to the city Dairying and intensive farming occur in the ring closest to the city. Since vegetables, fruit, milk and other dairy products must get to market quickly, they would be produced close to the city. Timber and firewood would be produced for fuel and building materials in the second zone. Before industrialization (and coal power), wood was a very important fuel for heating and cooking. The third zone consists of extensive fields crops such as grains for bread. Since grains last longer than dairy products and are much lighter than fuel, reducing transport costs, they can be located further from the city. Ranching is located in the final ring surrounding the central city. Animals can be raised far from the city because they are self-transporting. Beyond the fourth ring lies the unoccupied wilderness, which is too great a distance from the central city for any type of agricultural product.
Von Thünen Model (Rubenstein) Fig. 10-13: Von Thünen’s model shows how distance from a city or market affects the choice of agricultural activity in (a) a uniform landscape and (b) one with a river.
Agricultural Villages Nucleated (cluster)-intense cultivation with homes clustered in a village Dispersed settlement-individual farm house widely spaced-North America Linear Village-follows a stream or road Round Village-to corral livestock (rundling-Slavic farmers) Walled Village-e.g. Medieval Europe Grid Village-Spanish colonial villages & modern day planned-towns
Village Forms
Functional Differentiation within Villages Cultural landscape of a village reflects: Social stratification (How is material well being reflected in the spaces of a village?) Differentiation of buildings (What are they used for? How large are they?)
Agriculture Small scale farming for consumption and usage Subsistence Agriculture Small scale farming for consumption and usage Commercial Agriculture Large scale farming and ranching operations that employ vast land bases, large mechanized equipment, factory-type labor forces, and the latest technology. - roots are in colonial agriculture - today, global production made possible by advances in transportation and food storage
Loss of Productive Farmland Farmland in danger of being suburbanized as cities expand into neighboring farmlands.
X Factor-Advances in Transportation and Food Storage - Containerization of seaborne freight traffic - Refrigeration of containers, as they wait transport in Dunedin, New Zealand
Understanding Von Thünen (small groups) Lets work together to break down his model… 1- list 4 of the 6 limiting assumptions of his model. 2- on the paper provided, recreate the model, and explain why each concentric ring is purposed for the specific type of agriculture. 3- although the model had limiting assumptions, explain how the model can STILL be useful today.
1- list 4 of the 6 limiting assumptions of his model. Von Thunen's model was created before industrialization and is based on the following limiting assumptions: 1-The city is located centrally within an "Isolated State" which is self sufficient and has no external influences. 2-The Isolated State is surrounded by an unoccupied wilderness. 3-The land of the State is completely flat and has no rivers & no mountains to interrupt the terrain. 4-The soil quality and climate are consistent throughout the State. 5-Farmers transport their own goods to market via oxcart, across land, directly to the central city. Therefore, there are no roads. 6- Farmers act to maximize profits.
2- on the paper provided, recreate the model, and explain why each concentric ring is purposed for the specific type of agriculture.
3- although the model had limiting assumptions, explain how the model can STILL be useful today.