describe and explain the factors which may in uence the sites, growth and functions of settlements

•agricultural land use: the surrounding land provided a food supply for the village. The relief, soils, drainage and accessibility of the site allowed agriculture to take place

•relief (altitude, aspect and gradient): in mountainous regions, the highest areas are too cold for agriculture but the lowest areas are sparsely populated because of poor drainage, diseases, flooding and dense vegetation

           •small gradients mean good drainage, easy to cultivate and easier to build on

           •steep slopes often provide defensive sites or when flat land is in short supply but make transport difficult and be prone to landslides 

•soils: areas with fertile land are more densely settled because greater productivity means a larger population can be supported e.g alluvium

          •they tend to be rich in minerals and well-trained - often in floodplains and deltas 

          •some buildings have to be built next to fertile land since it’s too precious 

          •larger areas may be used for extensive farming of sheep 

•water supply: many first settlements were first established next to a river because transporting water is hard and time-consuming 

          •sites, in otherwise dry areas, with reliable water supplies, are called wet point sites

          •lack of water means low population density   

•accessibility: settlements benefit from contact to buy goods and services, which is why some settlements are linear along tracks and roads

          •where roads meet or at bridging points, larger villages and regional services may develop 

•resources: minerals such as coal, oil, copper and iron ores. 

         •this causes major migration, like steel and iron industries, creating jobs and high population densities e.g the Ruhr in Germany