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Settlement scaling theory: Bridging the study of ancient and contemporary urban systems

Author

Listed:
  • Jose Lobo

    (Arizona State University, USA)

  • Luis MA Bettencourt

    (The University of Chicago, USA)

  • Michael E Smith

    (Arizona State University, USA)

  • Scott Ortman

    (University of Colorado-Boulder, USA)

Abstract

A general explanatory framework for the social processes underpinning urbanisation should account for empirical regularities that are shared among contemporary urban systems and ancient settlement systems known throughout archaeology and history. The identification of such shared properties has been facilitated by research traditions in each field that define cities and settlements as areas that capture networks of social interaction embedded in space. Using Settlement Scaling Theory (SST) – a set of hypotheses and mathematical relationships that together generate predictions for how measurable quantitative attributes of settlements are related to their population size – we show that aggregate properties of ancient settlement systems and contemporary metropolitan systems scale up in similar ways across time, geography and culture. Settlement scaling theory thus provides a unified framework for understanding and predicting these regularities across time and space, and for identifying putative processes common to all human settlements.

Suggested Citation

  • Jose Lobo & Luis MA Bettencourt & Michael E Smith & Scott Ortman, 2020. "Settlement scaling theory: Bridging the study of ancient and contemporary urban systems," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(4), pages 731-747, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:57:y:2020:i:4:p:731-747
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098019873796
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    References listed on IDEAS

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