The municipality of Stara Zagora is situated in the southern central part of Bulgaria. It is one of the most ancient settlements in Europe, inhabited for at least 8000 years. Both the remains of dwellings date from the 6th century B.C., and the various archeological excavations from Thracian and Roman times witness to its millennial history. It was established by the Thracians in VI century B.C. under the name of Beroe. SETTLEMENTS AND THEIR PATTERNS

A settlement is a permanent collection of buildings where people reside, work, and obtain services. What did the advent of sedentary agriculture have to do with settlements?

Nucleated settlements Any size human settlement in which houses and other buildings are highly concentrated.

Settlements provide: Mobilizing function Efficient environments for organizing labor, capital, and raw materials for finished goods. (agglomeration?)

Decision making capacity They become concentrations of political and economic power. (World cities)

Generative function Concentration in an urban setting fosters interaction, competition, innovation, knowledge, and information.

Transformative capacity The size, density, and variety of urban populations tends to have a “liberating” effect on people, allowing them to escape the rigidities of traditional rural life. Translation:

RURAL SETTLEMENTS Clustered settlements: Houses and buildings of each family are situated close together and the fields surround the settlement.

Linear settlements Features buildings clustered along a road, river, or dike to facilitate communications. The fields extend behind buildings in long, narrow strips. (French long lots)

Dispersed rural settlements Where in the USA would it be more likely to find dispersed farms and why? Where around the world would it be more likely to find clustered farms?

Southern plantations are examples of dispersed settlements.

The Enclosure Movement Between 1750 and 1850, the British government consolidated farms from clustered to dispersed. This was accomplished by forcing some people to give up their small holdings. This brought on increased agricultural efficiency.

What was occurring in England at about the same time? Why were fewer farmers need to feed a growing population? Where did those who were displaced go to make a living?