Rural settlements refer to sparsely populated areas that are often agricultural or undeveloped, while urban settlements refer to densely populated areas with more infrastructure and services such as cities and towns.
Think of rural and urban settlements like a farm and a bustling city center. The farm (rural settlement) is spread out, quiet, with fewer people and buildings. The city center (urban settlement), on the other hand, is crowded, noisy, filled with skyscrapers, businesses, and lots of people.
Settlement Hierarchy: This refers to a system used to rank settlements based on their size or economic function. For example, hamlets would be at the bottom of the hierarchy while large cities would be at the top.
Population Density: This term refers to the number of people living per unit area in both rural and urban settings. It's like counting how many apples are in one basket - it gives you an idea of how crowded or sparse an area might be.
Infrastructure: Infrastructure includes basic physical structures needed for a society to function such as roads, bridges, water supply etc., which are typically more developed in urban than rural areas.
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