How Are Cities Organized? Crash Course Geography #46

Today we’re going to take a closer look at cities, examine how these large complex structures are organized, and identify patterns and differences in land use around the world. We'll begin with a quick recap of Central Place Theory, then we'll show you how the Concentric Zone Model can approximate the development of Chicago in the United States. Then, we'll take a closer look at colonial port cities, the development of industrial zones and financial districts, and the patchwork of immigrant communities that often developed around them in cities such as Boston in the United States. And finally, we will end our episode with a look at the layout of some North African cities that are in earthquake-prone areas with hot and dry climates such as in Fez, Morocco.

SOURCES
Knox and Marston 2016: Human Geography Place and Regions in a Global Context. 7th Edition. Pearson
White et al 2008. Essentials of World Regional Geography 2nd Edition. McGraw Hill. 
Latham, A et al 2009. Key Concepts in Urban Geography. Sage Publications, Inc. 
Knox P.L and McCarthy L. 2012. Urbanization An Introduction to Urban Geography. 3rd Edition. Pearson 
Knox P and Pinch S. 2000. Urban Social Geography An Introduction. 4th Edition. Prentice Hall
Pacione, M. 2001. Urban Geography A Global Perspective. Routledge

FEZ Morocco
 
#CrashCourse #Geography #UrbanGeography

Watch our videos and review your learning with the Crash Course App!

Thanks to the following patrons for their generous monthly contributions that help keep Crash Course free for everyone forever:
Dave Freeman, Hasan Jamal, DL Singfield, Lisa Owen, Jeremy Mysliwiec, Amelia Ryczek, Ken Davidian, Stephen Akuffo, Toni Miles, Erin Switzer, Steve Segreto, Michael M. Varughese, Kyle & Katherine Callahan, Laurel Stevens, Vincent, Michael Wang, Stacey Gillespie (Stacey J), Alexis B, Burt Humburg, Aziz Y, Shanta, DAVID MORTON HUDSON, Perry Joyce, Scott Harrison, Mark & Susan Billian, Junrong Eric Zhu, Rachel Creager, Breanna Bosso, Matt Curls, Tim Kwist, Jonathan Zbikowski, Jennifer Killen, Sarah & Nathan Catchings, team dorsey, Trevin Beattie, Divonne Holmes à Court, Eric Koslow, Jennifer, Dineen, Indika Siriwardena, Khaled El Shalakany, Jason Rostoker, Shawn Arnold, Siobhán, Ken Penttinen, Nathan Taylor, Les Aker, ClareG, Rizwan Kassim, Alex Hackman, Jirat, Katie Dean, Avi Yashchin, NileMatotle, Wai Jack Sin, Ian Dundore, Justin, Mark, Caleb Weeks
__

Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?

[BritneyT.]

Hearing about the structure of Fez is so eye-opening and interesting since I've only ever lived in America my whole life. Sometimes it's just hard to wrap your head around how much can go on in one city!

[dhindaravrel]

Cities don't need to be organised around the excessively noisy automobile. Properly built cities are walkable/cyclable, have a well-developed public transport system and offer calm public spaces for people to enjoy gathering outdoors. Just look at older cities that have not been overtaken by the car craze and you'll see what I mean.

[coryinthehouse]

great video. but, it does have some weaknesses.

first off. it doesn't really explain how pedestrian cities differ from car based cities. despite that being one of the biggest determiners or how a city is laid out.

secondly. it also makes it sound like European and American cities are generally alike. which they absolutely are not. European cities. like most old world cities. are pre motorized transportation. so many European cities (London comes to mind) have small compact often messy urban cores much like Fez.
they also (and this is another thing you failed to cover but does greatly influence cities in their layout.) as a result have far more mixed zoning then American cities. old world cities, be they in Europe Africa or Asia generally have mixed residential/commercial zoning for most of their down town. as historically, people lived above their shops. and still do to a great extent. interestingly this combined with the medieval city layout you showed in Fez. often means that since the best shop spots were right next to the church or mosque. the richest areas were right next to the church or mosque aswell. as a result. the Chicago based city model you used to explain wealth distribution in cities. becomes almost completely inverted for most cities on the planet. as the wealthiest residential areas are right in the city center decreasing as you go out. over all this comes across as very America centric. great video otherwise tho.

[Dea_Decay]

I hadn't realized Crash Course started doing a geography series! I'm a world history teacher with a love for geography and really love the production changes that have gone into this series versus some of the earlier ones done by Crash Course. I also really appreciate the indigenous people whose land these cities currently occupy, thank you for acknowledging that!

[lakrids-pibe]

The inner city is a highly sought after place to live in European cities.

The relocation to the suburbs did not leave the city center as an empty, dilapidated and underfunded problem in the same way as in North American cities.

[MrJdebest]

The city planners of Vancouver B.C. learned their lessons in Europe, because we have a LOT of parks here. A walk through a park is good for the soul 😁👍🇨🇦

[eustache_dauger]

There's also the differences between cities established after the proliferation of motor vehicles and those established before. In term of how the former mightve been designed around car ownership & driving experience instead of being pedestrian friendly.

[cimmik]

Thank you for a very informative video. I'm currently self-studying to become an urban planner and you provide some great perspectives and sources.

[lauren]

I love crash course and learning so much. I swear if only college were free. In the meantime I love these videos they relax me. Thank you 💖🦋

[cybr]

me living in Athens: Cities are organised?

[mscbijles]

This might be a good moment to mention the YouTube channel of Not Just Bikes and Strong Towns. Go take a look there! And be amazed by how wasteful North American cities are with their money and revenues. Would also be great for living standards if we decided to switch to a more European style of living in a city.

[j.a.]

Just a small correction on the Fez part. Arabic is complex. Suq is not just one place like target or home Depot, Suq is the whole commercial zone. Think of it like the whole Mall or shipping center. So it's not suqs which sell books and suqs which sell paint. It's all actually one Suq with different people selling different things.

[amongusfriends]

Video: today we will learn...
Me: Looking at the spider man 😅😅 0:00

[SupermaxLaFrom]

5:55 Not a big deal, but the Toronto pin looks like it's pointing at Montréal

[boazbouwman]

anyone noticing that these models are from the USA. this is not how europaean cities work

[myfakename]

Except in some cities where the streets were laid out by cracked out spiders

[sahara-lueq]

for next time u should totally talk about how american model of planing cities was used in the gulf countries in cities lie dubai which didnt really work, also u should mention the problems dubai have in itss planningg and design

[abexoxo]

I don't understand, how is Fez's road layout related to the earthquakes?

[pendragon]

I love in the opening scene you see Spider Man sidling out of the picture!

[richardedward]

Pretty good job. The city as a living, breathing ecosystem is a peculiar analogy.