HOUSING

ARCH. SHANNON M. BATIDUAN PIA, UAP

Instructor

LESSON 1.3: HUMAN SETTLEMENT TRANSITION TO MODERN AGE

Recap
• PALEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT – Primitive non-organize human settlements
INAHBITANTS- NOMADS AND HUNTERERS
SHELTER- CAVES AND TREES

• MESOPLITHIC SETTLEMENT - Primitive non-organize human settlements

INAHBITANTS- NOMADS AND HUNTERERS
SHELTER- TEMPORARY
Huts were built using mammoth bones, followed my houses of wood, straw and rock.

• NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT - Primitive organize human settlements

INAHBITANTS- FARMERS AND HERDERS
SHELTER- PERMANENT

A. TOWARDS SETTLED HABITATION

• Earliest settlements consisted of groups of houses built by the side of agricultural fields, a shrine and a
burial ground.
• Some inhabitants continued to live in caves and wander around for hunting animals- more as a pastime
rather than a necessity.

B. THE COMMON HABITAT AND ONSET OF CIVILIZATION

• Inhabitants organize a community under a recognize leader.
• Started learning to provide for themselves and the three basic necessities of life- food, clothing and shelter.

C. SHIFTING CULTIVATION
• Shift to new location after experiencing decrease in fertility after successive cultivation
• Later learned that land regained fertility if left uncultivated for years
• Began to cultivate fields by rotation
• Manage to stop shifting practice and settled down in one place

D. FOOD SURPLUS
• Learned to make manure out of night soil and animal droppings
• Greatly increased food production
• As food became abundant, health improved
• Death dropped, birth rate increased and population of many settlements began to multiply rapidly through
natural process.

E. BEGINNING OF PERMANENT SETTLEMENT

• Assured food supply through agriculture encouraged man to permanently settle by the sides of the fields to
cultivate.
• Compact settlement since agriculture could support up to 35 persons per sq. km as compared to 15
persons per sq. m applicable to hunting and food gathering societies.
F. FAVORABLE LOCATIONS FOR SETTLEMENTS
• Favorable environment for human existence and survival
• Climate not very harsh
• Epidemics not frequent
• Fertile Land for agricultural woks
• Good quality of water/ Potable water, abundance of water source
• River Valleys as popular places for settled habitation

WHY RIVER VALLEYS

• Land is fertile, water and food supply are extracted from the rivers, soft clay supply is available for
constructing huts
• Rivers or bodies of water was later used as means of transportation
First settlements in the river valleys of India, China, Egypt and areas known as the Fertile Crescent
(Modern Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Israel)
“Fertile Crescent” is a boomerang-shaped region of the Middle East that was home to some of the earliest
human civilizations. Also known as the “Cradle of Civilization,” this area was the birthplace of a number of
technological innovations, including writing, the wheel, agriculture, and the use of irrigation.

OTHER FACTORS CONSIDERED FOR SITTING SETTLEMENTS

• Higher ground for better drainage, protection from floods and reasons of security
• Spacing between settlements to leave space for future expansion

G. DIVISION OF LABOUR
• As food became abundant, all the inhabitants were not required to work on the fields.
• Others began to practice various occupations.
• Working population got divided among farmers, cattle and poultry breeders, fisherman, shepherds,
craftsmen (carpenters, potters, painters, engravers, makers of tools, weapons and other implements), and
weavers.
• Some engage in taming and domestication of animals for bearing load, plow fields, protecting property and
source of milk, meat and wool.

H. BARTER SYSTEM
• The most ancient form of trading
• Those who were not farmers were supplied food in exchange of goods the produced.
• Shepherds got grains in exchange for milk, weavers for cloth, potters for utensils, and craftsmen for tools
and implements
• Initially practiced within the community
• Later as rivers and land routes developed for transportation, goods began to be exchanged across
communities.

I. TRADING
• With transportation, reputation of some of the goods produced by craftsmen of particular villages began to
travel far and wide.
• As the demand of goods increased, the trading of such goods began to grow.
• Traders emerged as a new class of people, trading as a new occupation and market place as the new
physical component of settlements.
J. SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
"Social stratification means the differentiation of a given population into hierarchically superposed classes. It is
manifested in the existence of upper and lower social layers. Its basis and very essence consist in an unequal
distribution of rights and privileges, duties and responsibilities, social values and privations, social power and
influences among the members of a society."

• Early traders most probably belong to the hunting tribe- people who are used to travel
• They were recognized as leaders as they provided protection to the community against wild animals.
• After they began trading activity, they accumulated goods and became wealthy.
• They accumulated knowledge as they traveled long distances and commune with people from different
tribes and culture.
• Their hold on the community increased and became quite powerful. Some ruled as “Chieftain”

K. NEW PHYSICAL FEATURES

• The chieftain built for himself a castle which towered over other buildings, more so because it’s built at the
highest point of the valley.
• The rich traders and wealthy farmers built their housed near castles- the new distinguishing feature and a
status symbol.
• Relatively poor artisans and ordinary peasants occupied quarters on the periphery.
• The community was divided between the rich and the poor and the two social classes occupied different
sections of the settlement.
• The rich and the poor gradually grew antagonistic to each other.
• The rich became concerned about their life and property and built a wall around their castle to create
fortification.
• Man had originally learned to ward of danger from beasts and wild animals but now afraid of being attacked
by fellow human beings.

L. THE WALLED SETTLEMENTS

• The strife between people of the same settlement later supplemented by people of different settlements.
• The rich settlements were exposed to the danger of being raided by outsiders.
• A wall around a settlement was built in addition to the existing wall around castles.
• This effectively curbed physical spread of settlements.
• People living outside moved in (migration)
• The density of population began to rise.

M. SUBJUGATION OF PEASANTS “Subjugation”- the action of bringing someone or something under domination or
control.
• The external threat brought forth the necessity of internal unity.
• The need to mutually defend themselves.
• But the new organization of the community was such that it resulted in the subjugation and exploitation of a
majority of peasants by a small minority of the rich- the so-called nobles.
• The chieftain claimed a share in the agricultural surplus in return for the protection provided by him to the
community.
• Initially, this could be described as the beginning of “Taxation System”.
• Placing more sources at the disposal of the chieftain meant better equipped army and better protection for
the community.
• Soon the beneficent role of the chieftain was corrupted by his lust for power.
• As the resources and power increased, so is the demand for a larger share of agricultural surplus.
• Ultimately leaving minimum for survival of the peasant and his family.
 • Chieftain was supported by a large number of military and army officers, governors, viziers, tax-gatherers,
and soldiers.

N. ROLE OF PRIESTS AND NEW PHYSICAL STRUCTURING

• When use of physical power was not enough to ensure complete obedience, the same was achieved by
exploiting the religious sensibilities of the people.
• The shrine moved within the precincts of the citadel.
• Priest started to identified with the chieftain.
• Often, the Chieftain even assumed the role of a priest.
• The chieftain became all powerful and people willingly obeyed whatever he commanded.
• He elevated himself to the status of a King- one who commanded a territory recognized as kingdom.
• The castle grew into a temple.

O. LABOUR SPECIALISATION
• Under the centralized command of a king, many large-scale constructions such as protective walls, moats,
forts and temples, network of irrigation channels, cisterns and reservoirs were completed.
• Mine were found for quarrying building materials.
• Timber began to be used in buildings in combination with other materials.
• Labour specialization was carried step further.
• The new occupation groups such as engineers, construction labourers, carpenters, miners and transporters
(boatmen, sailors, loaders and cartmen), merchants (including money lenders and bankers), soldiers and
priests were added.

P. CASTE DIFFERENTIATION “Caste”- any class or group of people who inherit exclusive privileges or are perceived as
socially distinct.
• Members assumed or were assigned specific functions by the ruler.
• Persons assigned jobs such as scavenging and cobbling were assigned to low status in the society, paid
minimal wages and remained poor.
• Whereas people performing religious, administrative and intellectual functions were accorded high status,
were paid high salaries and became rich.
• They were considered to belong in high caste categories.
• Community was not only divided into the rich and poor but also caste managed.

Q. LANGUAGE, ART, MONEY AND TECHNOLOGY

• Man developed new skills in art to create carvings, engravings and painting.
• Developed a kind of common language.
• Learned the use of metals and acquired ana array of new implements.
• Used these to make houses or structures, temples and tombs bigger.

R. COMMUNITY STRUCTURE
• Labour specialization
• New Occupation-Teachers, advocates, judges, government servants.
• New Class of people- philosophers, scientists, administrators, political leaders, dramatists, sculptors,
artists, architects and town planners.
• Distinct social classes.
• Non-agricultural occupations expanded at a faster rate.
• Invention of new means of transportation.
• Expansion of trade.
 • Merchants organized in forms of guilds.
• Developed art and literature.
• Acquisition of wealth and knowledge.
• A general sense of appreciation for civic concerns.
• Structural transformations continued over subsequent civilizations and cultural phases.

S. URBAN SETTLEMENT
• The village evolved into its urban counterpart
• According to some historians, first settled habitation existed as early about 13,000 B.C.
• First known settlement as claimed by archaeologists was Jericho in modern Israel that was established in
7,888 B.C.
• The indisputable permanent settlement inhabited by farming community was in Jarmo, Khurdistan, area of
Iraq during 7,000 and 6,500 B.C.

T. PHYSICAL FORM OF URBAN SETTLEMENT

• A common core consisting of a castle, fortress, fort, the temple, and houses of nobles and priests.
• A public square which generally formed part of the core.
• A market place and a school.
• Tombs, statues, rock sculptures, colonnades, obelisks, fountains, parks, gardens and canals.
• Protective inner and outer walls with moats and monumental gates.
• Dwellings of common people.
• Theater, government offices, gymnasiums, judicial courts and institutions of higher learning (added during
Greek period).
• Church became the central focus of medieval towns.
• Monasteries became new center of activity.
• Warehouses to store the wealth of the town.
• Guild Halls and Town Halls.

Prepared by:
Arch. Shannon M. Batiduan, PIA, UAP
Instructor