The Human Environment - Settlements, Transport and Communication Chapter Notes | Window on the Word Class 7: Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

Early humans were wanderers, not settled in one place; they moved around in search of food and shelter. They lived temporarily in places like caves before moving on to new locations. Traveling on foot, they communicated through speech, signs, or hand gestures. Their lifestyle had minimal impact on the environment.

Human Impact on the Environment

• Humans have progressively engaged in agricultural practices, constructed homes, and formed communities.
• They devised various modes of transportation and communication to connect distant places.
• Altering the natural surroundings to meet their requirements became a common practice.
• These actions significantly influenced the environment, leading to the formation of the human environment.

Let's delve into each of these activities to gain a deeper understanding.

Settlements

• Originally, early humans lived nomadic lives, relying on hunting, gathering, and simple hand gestures. Their lifestyle was such that their impact on the environment was minimal.
• As time progressed, humans transitioned to agricultural practices, constructing shelters, and establishing settlements. They also created diverse modes of transportation and communication to connect distant places.
• This shift towards settled living altered the natural environment to accommodate human requirements, significantly impacting the surroundings and giving rise to the human-built environment.
• Different types of settlements emerged based on the physical surroundings and the inhabitants' needs, reflecting variations in design and functionality.

Permanent and Temporary Settlements

Permanent Settlements

• Occupied for extended periods
• Emergence linked to agriculture, trade, and commerce
• Construction of durable houses suitable for local conditions

Temporary Settlements

• Short-term habitation
• Inhabited by hunter-gatherers, shifting cultivators, and cattle herders
• Transhumance: seasonal movement of livestock between mountain and lowland pastures

Rural and Urban Settlements

Classification: Settlements can be categorized as rural or urban based on population density and residents' occupations.

Rural Settlements:

• Rural areas have low population density.
• Main activities include agriculture, lumbering, hunting, and fishing.
• Typical housing materials: mud, wood, or stone.

Urban Settlements:

• Urban areas have high population density.
• Main occupations: manufacturing, trade, and services.
• Construction materials: bricks and cement.
• Urban areas offer amenities like electricity, water supply, sanitation, and public transport.

Economic Activities

• Economic activity is divided into three sectors—primary, secondary, and tertiary.
• The primary sector involves the extraction of raw material from natural sources, including activities like agriculture and mining.
• The secondary sector processes raw materials into finished goods, typical in industries such as textile factories where raw cotton is transformed into cloth for sale.
• The tertiary sector focuses on providing services rather than goods, with examples such as teaching, banking, and cleaning falling under this category.

Clustered and Scattered Settlements

• Settlements can be categorized based on house distribution.
• Clustered or nucleated settlements have houses built close together, often seen in urban and plain areas with high population density and developed infrastructure.
• Scattered settlements feature houses built far apart, common in mountainous and rural regions.

Transport

• Definition: Transport involves moving people or goods from one place to another.

The Brief History of the Means of Transport

• Initially, people traveled on foot.
• Progressively, rafts and boats were utilized for water travel.
• Animals like oxen, mules, horses, and camels were employed for transportation.
• The invention of the wheel around 5,000 years ago revolutionized transport.
• Post-Industrial Revolution, advancements like the steam engine, oil-powered vehicles, and airplanes were made, significantly enhancing transportation systems.

Present Day Scenario

• Today, a variety of transport modes (cars, buses, railways, ships, boats, airplanes) are available, reducing travel times significantly.
• The development of transport networks is closely tied to the economic progress of regions, enhancing accessibility and fostering trade and commerce.

The Four Main Forms of Transport

• Roadways
• Railways
• Waterways
• Airways

Roadways

• Roads serve as a common means of transportation, particularly for short distances.
• They establish connections between various parts of a city, state, or country.
• Roads are categorized into two types: metalled (pucca) roads and unmetalled (kutcha) roads.
• Metalled roads are predominantly present in towns and cities, whereas unmetalled roads are commonly found in villages.
• India boasts one of the most extensive road networks globally.
• The Golden Quadrilateral in India is a significant road network that links Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, and Mumbai.
• This network also interconnects crucial cities such as Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Surat, Kanpur, Pune, Bengaluru, and Vijayawada.

Advantages Disadvantages of Road Transport

Advantages of Road Transport:

• The infrastructure investment for road transport is much lower compared to rail or air transport.
• Road transport allows for door-to-door delivery of goods, services, and people.
• Roads provide connectivity to even the most remote areas that are inaccessible by rail, air, or water transport.

Disadvantages of Road Transport:

• Road transport is less reliable than other modes of transport.
• High risk of accidents on roads.
• Vehicles on roads contribute significantly to air pollution.

Railways

• Railways serve as the primary mode of transportation for long distances and moving bulky goods within a country.
• Compared to roadways, railways are typically more cost-effective and quicker for long-distance travel.
• They play a crucial role in a country's industrial development by transporting heavy materials such as iron ore, coal, limestone, steel, and cement.
• Challenges exist in laying railway tracks in mountainous regions and sandy deserts due to the difficulty and cost involved.
• Railways do not facilitate direct delivery to doorsteps for goods or passengers.
• Passenger trains are for transporting people, while freight trains or goods trains are for carrying goods.
• Modern superfast trains like China's Shanghai Maglev, Japan's Shinkansen (Bullet Train), and Italy's Frecciarossa significantly reduce travel times between cities.
• India boasts one of the world's largest railway networks, serving as a vital means of long-distance travel for many in the country.

Waterways

• Waterways have been a primary means of long-distance travel since ancient times. Humans have utilized rafts, boats, and ships for fishing, transportation, trade, and exploration.
• They represent a cost-effective mode of transporting heavy goods across countries or continents. Items such as oil, food grains, heavy machinery, and iron ore are commonly transported via ships.

There are two main categories of waterways:

• Inland waterways: This category encompasses all navigable rivers, canals, backwaters, and creeks. Examples include the Great Lakes in North America, the rivers Danube and Rhine in Europe, and the river Nile in Africa.
• Marine waterways: These are routes across the open seas connecting various parts of the world and enabling global trade and transportation.

Inland Waterways

• Key Inland Waterways in India:
  • Ganga-Brahmaputra river system
  • Godavari river
  • Krishna river
  • Backwaters of Kerala

Marine Waterways

Definition: Oceans and seas used for international transport

• Key Ports:
• Shanghai
• Singapore
• Hong Kong
• London
• New York
• Mumbai
• Kolkata
• Chennai

Important Marine Routes:

• Mediterranean-Indian Ocean
• Northern Atlantic sea
• South Pacific sea

Impact of Canals:

• Suez Canal
• Panama Canal

Airways

Characteristics of Air Transport:

• Speedy
• Expensive
• Uses for passengers and cargo
• Benefits in challenging terrains

Key Airports:

• New York
• Paris
• Beijing
• Cairo
• Tokyo
• Singapore
• London
• Frankfurt
• Delhi
• Mumbai

Commercial Space Travel

New Trend in Air Transport

Players:

• Private Companies
• NASA

Technology:

• Suborbital Reusable Vehicles (SRVs)

Communication

Communication is the process of conveying messages, including information, thoughts, ideas, or feelings to others. There are two main types of communication: personal communication and mass communication.

Personal Communication

• Personal communication involves the exchange of messages between two individuals.
• Examples of personal communication means include telephones, postal service, mobile phones, smartphones, and the Internet.

Mass Communication

• Mass communication involves conveying messages to a large group of people simultaneously.
• Mass media serves as the primary means of mass communication.
• Examples of mass media include newspapers, radio, television, and social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Impact of Communication and Transport Systems

• Communication and transport systems have played a crucial role in connecting people globally.
• These systems have enabled access to information and knowledge from various parts of the world, contributing to the formation of a global society.