MOI UNIVERSITY
THE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
SOC 412: SOCIOLOGY OF URBANIZATION
TOPIC 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 DEFINITION AND ORIGIN OF URBANIZATION
Urbanization is the process through which cities grow, and higher and higher percentages
of the population comes to live in the city. It is the process by which large numbers of
people become permanently concentrated in relatively small areas, forming cities. It also
refers to the population shift from rural to urban areas, the corresponding decrease in the
proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt to this
change.
Urbanization began in ancient Mesopotamia in the Uruk Period (4300-3100 BCE) for
reasons scholars have not yet agreed on. It is speculated, however, that a particularly
prosperous and efficient village attracted the attention of other, less prosperous, tribes
who then attached themselves to the successful settlement.
The earliest city to rise in the region of Mesopotamia is considered by modern-day
scholars to be Uruk, around 4500 BCE, and then that of Ur around 3800 BCE, both of
which were then situated in proximity to the banks of the Euphrates River. To
the Sumerians, however, the first city was Eridu which was founded in 5400 BCE but
probably was not a `city' in the same way that Uruk or Ur would be defined (see
definition of City). In the myth of Inanna and the God of Wisdom, the dictates of
civilization, known as the meh, are taken from Eridu to Uruk and it is thought the subject
of this poem represents the shift in paradigm from a more pastoral way of life
(symbolized by Eridu) to one more urbanized (represented by Uruk). The structure of the
city, and the security of urban living, seems to have attracted the populace of the region
to urban centers although the theory has been suggested that the populace was forcibly
removed from agricultural holdings and re-located in the cities whose rulers then
appropriated the lands for the state. This theory, however, fails to account for the
continuation of urbanization throughout the history of Mesopotamia or its replication in
other nations.
By the year 2600 BCE Ur was a thriving metropolis and, by 2900 BCE, was a walled city
with a population of approximately 65,000. Urbanization, however, continued as the city
expanded out from the center and, in time, the once fertile fields which fed the populace
were depleted. The over-use of the land, combined with a mysterious shift in the
Euphrates which drew the waters away from the city, resulted in the complex finally
being abandoned around 500 BCE. Eridu, for perhaps similar reasons, was abandoned in
600 BCE and Uruk in 650 BCE. Though many factors no doubt contributed to the decline
of cities such as Ur (Sargon of Akkad plundered the city in 2340 BCE, for example, and
repeated military excursions against the city persisted through the ages with the Elamites
finally sacking the city in 1750 BCE), it has been suggested that urbanization and,
especially, the over-use of the surrounding lands for farming, was a central cause.
1.2 RELATIONSHIP OF URBAN SOCIOLOGY WITH OTHER DISCIPLINES
1|Page
, Sociology is a science of society. As a social science it attempts to study social life as a
whole. But for the understanding of social life as a whole sociology requires the help of
other social sciences which studies a particular aspect of society. Economics studies the
economic aspects whereas political science studies political aspects.
Hence it is obvious that other social sciences are closely related to sociology. Sociology
is considered as the mother of social sciences. Besides sociology synthesizes other social
sciences. Hence there exists a very close and intimate relationship between Sociology and
other social sciences. For our precise understanding of the relationship between sociology
and other social sciences we have to discuss them individually, which are discussed
below:
Sociology and Political Science:
As a mother of social sciences Sociology has close and intimate relationship with all
other social science. Hence it has close relationship with political science as well. Their
relationship is so close and intimate that led G.E.C. Catlin to remark “Political Science
and Sociology are two faces or aspects of the same figure.” Similarly other scholars could
not find any difference between the two disciplines.
Sociology is a Science of society. It is a science of social groups and social institutions. It
is a general science of society. It studies human interaction and inter-relations their
conditions and consequences. Political Science is a science of state and Government. It
studies power, political processes, political systems, types of government and
international relations. It deals with social groups organised under the sovereign of the
state.
Each and every social problem has a political cause. Political Science is a part of
sociology. Hence sociology depends on political science to comprehend itself. To
understand different political events sociology takes the help from political science.
Sociology to draw it’s conclusions depends on political science. Any change in the
political system or nature of power structure brings changes in society. Hence Sociology
takes the help of political science to understand the changes in society. Hence both are
inter-dependent. Similarly political science also depends on Sociology. Political Science
is a part of sociology. To understand the part it is necessary to understand the whole.
Almost all political problems has a social cause and for the solution of these political
problems political science takes the help of sociology.
State frames its rules, regulations and laws on the basis of social customs, tradition and
values. Without Sociological background the study of political science will be
incomplete. Political Scientists largely benefited by the researches and research methods
of the Sociologist. Some consider political science as a branch of Sociology. State is
considered as a social group hence is a subject of Sociology.
Besides, there are some common topics which are being studied by both the subjects.
These topics are War, Propaganda, authority, communal riots and law. With the help of
both political science and sociology a new subject comes into existence which is known
as political sociology. Some political events like war are also significant social events.
Thus both political science and sociology contribute to each other. But inspite of their
inter-relationship and inter-dependence both the sciences differ from each other in the
following way.
2|Page
, 3|Page
THE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
SOC 412: SOCIOLOGY OF URBANIZATION
TOPIC 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 DEFINITION AND ORIGIN OF URBANIZATION
Urbanization is the process through which cities grow, and higher and higher percentages
of the population comes to live in the city. It is the process by which large numbers of
people become permanently concentrated in relatively small areas, forming cities. It also
refers to the population shift from rural to urban areas, the corresponding decrease in the
proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt to this
change.
Urbanization began in ancient Mesopotamia in the Uruk Period (4300-3100 BCE) for
reasons scholars have not yet agreed on. It is speculated, however, that a particularly
prosperous and efficient village attracted the attention of other, less prosperous, tribes
who then attached themselves to the successful settlement.
The earliest city to rise in the region of Mesopotamia is considered by modern-day
scholars to be Uruk, around 4500 BCE, and then that of Ur around 3800 BCE, both of
which were then situated in proximity to the banks of the Euphrates River. To
the Sumerians, however, the first city was Eridu which was founded in 5400 BCE but
probably was not a `city' in the same way that Uruk or Ur would be defined (see
definition of City). In the myth of Inanna and the God of Wisdom, the dictates of
civilization, known as the meh, are taken from Eridu to Uruk and it is thought the subject
of this poem represents the shift in paradigm from a more pastoral way of life
(symbolized by Eridu) to one more urbanized (represented by Uruk). The structure of the
city, and the security of urban living, seems to have attracted the populace of the region
to urban centers although the theory has been suggested that the populace was forcibly
removed from agricultural holdings and re-located in the cities whose rulers then
appropriated the lands for the state. This theory, however, fails to account for the
continuation of urbanization throughout the history of Mesopotamia or its replication in
other nations.
By the year 2600 BCE Ur was a thriving metropolis and, by 2900 BCE, was a walled city
with a population of approximately 65,000. Urbanization, however, continued as the city
expanded out from the center and, in time, the once fertile fields which fed the populace
were depleted. The over-use of the land, combined with a mysterious shift in the
Euphrates which drew the waters away from the city, resulted in the complex finally
being abandoned around 500 BCE. Eridu, for perhaps similar reasons, was abandoned in
600 BCE and Uruk in 650 BCE. Though many factors no doubt contributed to the decline
of cities such as Ur (Sargon of Akkad plundered the city in 2340 BCE, for example, and
repeated military excursions against the city persisted through the ages with the Elamites
finally sacking the city in 1750 BCE), it has been suggested that urbanization and,
especially, the over-use of the surrounding lands for farming, was a central cause.
1.2 RELATIONSHIP OF URBAN SOCIOLOGY WITH OTHER DISCIPLINES
1|Page
, Sociology is a science of society. As a social science it attempts to study social life as a
whole. But for the understanding of social life as a whole sociology requires the help of
other social sciences which studies a particular aspect of society. Economics studies the
economic aspects whereas political science studies political aspects.
Hence it is obvious that other social sciences are closely related to sociology. Sociology
is considered as the mother of social sciences. Besides sociology synthesizes other social
sciences. Hence there exists a very close and intimate relationship between Sociology and
other social sciences. For our precise understanding of the relationship between sociology
and other social sciences we have to discuss them individually, which are discussed
below:
Sociology and Political Science:
As a mother of social sciences Sociology has close and intimate relationship with all
other social science. Hence it has close relationship with political science as well. Their
relationship is so close and intimate that led G.E.C. Catlin to remark “Political Science
and Sociology are two faces or aspects of the same figure.” Similarly other scholars could
not find any difference between the two disciplines.
Sociology is a Science of society. It is a science of social groups and social institutions. It
is a general science of society. It studies human interaction and inter-relations their
conditions and consequences. Political Science is a science of state and Government. It
studies power, political processes, political systems, types of government and
international relations. It deals with social groups organised under the sovereign of the
state.
Each and every social problem has a political cause. Political Science is a part of
sociology. Hence sociology depends on political science to comprehend itself. To
understand different political events sociology takes the help from political science.
Sociology to draw it’s conclusions depends on political science. Any change in the
political system or nature of power structure brings changes in society. Hence Sociology
takes the help of political science to understand the changes in society. Hence both are
inter-dependent. Similarly political science also depends on Sociology. Political Science
is a part of sociology. To understand the part it is necessary to understand the whole.
Almost all political problems has a social cause and for the solution of these political
problems political science takes the help of sociology.
State frames its rules, regulations and laws on the basis of social customs, tradition and
values. Without Sociological background the study of political science will be
incomplete. Political Scientists largely benefited by the researches and research methods
of the Sociologist. Some consider political science as a branch of Sociology. State is
considered as a social group hence is a subject of Sociology.
Besides, there are some common topics which are being studied by both the subjects.
These topics are War, Propaganda, authority, communal riots and law. With the help of
both political science and sociology a new subject comes into existence which is known
as political sociology. Some political events like war are also significant social events.
Thus both political science and sociology contribute to each other. But inspite of their
inter-relationship and inter-dependence both the sciences differ from each other in the
following way.
2|Page
, 3|Page
