HISTORY OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

1. Discuss and compare the planning principles and concepts of Greek Civilization’s
settlements and Roman Civilization settlements. Support your arguments with suitable
examples of different cities of both civilizations.

(323 BC – 147 BC) Eg. - Messene

The Acropolis:
 https://www.slideshare.net/mathewsdijo/greece-37593212
https://www.slideshare.net/skpatil001/12-town-planning-greek-and-roman-culture
Roman Town:
The Romans used a consolidated scheme for city planning, developed for civil convenience. The basic
plan consisted of a central forum with city services, surrounded by a compact, rectilinear grid of streets.
A river sometimes flowed near or through the city, providing water, transport, and sewage
disposal.[13] Hundreds of towns and cities were built by the Romans throughout their empire. Many
European towns, such as Turin, preserve the remains of these schemes, which show the very logical
way the Romans designed their cities. They would lay out the streets at right angles, in the form of a
square grid. All roads were equal in width and length, except for two, which were slightly wider than the
others. The decumanus, running east–west, and the cardo, running north–south, intersected in the
middle to form the centre of the grid. All roads were made of carefully fitted flag stones and filled in with
smaller, hard-packed rocks and pebbles. Bridges were constructed where needed. Each square marked
by four roads was called an insula, the Roman equivalent of a modern city block.
Each insula was about 80 yards (73 m) square. As the city developed, it could eventually be filled with
buildings of various shapes and sizes and criss-crossed with back roads and alleys.
The city may have been surrounded by a wall to protect it from invaders and to mark the city limits. Areas
outside city limits were left open as farmland. At the end of each main road was a large gateway with
watchtowers. A portcullis covered the opening when the city was under siege, and additional
watchtowers were constructed along the city walls. An aqueduct was built outside the city walls.
Map of Roman Roman City -Timgad
Map of Roman Roman City –Turin
 2. Briefly discuss the concepts and theories propounded by Sir Patrick Geddes and its
relevance in Indian context with suitable examples.

Sir Patrick Geddes (1854-1932) was a Scottish biologist, sociologist, geographer, philanthropist and
pioneering town planner. He is known for his innovative thinking in the fields of urban
planning and sociology.
He introduced the concept of "region" to architecture and planning and coined the term
"conurbation". Later, he elaborated ‘neotechnics’ as the way of remaking a world apart from over-
commercialization and money dominance.
Geddes conceptualized a mode of planning that sought to consider "primary human needs" in every
intervention, engaging in "constructive and conservative surgery which he continued to use and
advocate for this approach throughout his career.
Geddes consciously worked against the tradition of the "gridiron plan", and believed that conservative
surgery approach was both more economical and more humane.

His principles for town planning demonstrates his views on the relationship between social processes
and spatial form, and the intimate and causal connections between the social development of the
individual and the cultural and physical environment. It included:
 Preservation of human life and energy, rather than superficial beautification.
 Conformity to an orderly development plan carried out in stages.
 Purchasing land suitable for building.
 Promoting trade and commerce.
 Preserving historic buildings and buildings of religious significance.
 Developing a city worthy of civic pride, not an imitation of European cities.
 Promoting the happiness, health and comfort of all residents, rather than focusing on roads and
parks available only to the rich.
 Control over future growth with adequate provision for future requirements.

Geddes Philosophy of planning –

"Town Planning is not mere place-planning, nor even work planning. If it is to be successful it must be
folk planning. This means that its task is not to coerce people into new places against their associations,
wishes, and interest, as we find bad schemes trying to do. Instead its task is to find the right places for
each sort of people; place where they will really flourish. To give people in fact the same care that we
give when transplanting flowers, instead of harsh evictions and arbitrary instructions to 'move on',
delivered in the manner of an officious policeman.”

Theories:
- Geddian Trio Representation: WORK - FOLK - PLACE
Which represents both place and folk are linked and through work are in constant transition.

- Geddes and the valley section:

 Geddes illustrated the section using the locally available landscapes of Edinburg and its
hinterland
 Conurbation Theory:

Example in India – Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) is consisting of metropolis of Mumabi and its
satellite towns. Developing over a period of about 20 years, it consists of 7 municipal corporations and 15
smaller municipal councils.
The National Capital Region (NCR) is a name for the conurbation which encompasses the entire
National Capital Territory of Delhi as well as urban areas reigning in neighboring states of UP, Haryana
and Rajasthan.
Constellation Theory:

Indian Context and example of constellation theory is –