Urbanization Process Since Neolithic Period: A Historical Overview

The Process of Urbanization

Since the Neolithic period, cities have experienced continuous growth, consistent with the increased level of civilization. The most brilliant civilizations were urban.

A- The Pre-Traditional City

It corresponds to the historical heritage from different historical eras. Its path is heterogeneous and irregular, and Spanish cities are the product of 2000 years of evolution.

• Pre-Roman Cities: There are no current traces of these cities. They were native Iberian and founded by the Phoenicians and Greeks.
• Cities Founded by the Romans: These cities showcase the genius of Roman developers, designing orthogonal planes from the decumanus and cardo maximus. In the center stood the forum, the center of life and home to major public buildings and the main families. The need for defense led to the construction of walls. This disposal is still perceptible in Zaragoza and Barcelona. Major important constructions include aqueducts, theaters, bridges, and walls.
• Visigothic and Early Medieval Periods: There was a setback in development during these periods. However, during the late Middle Ages, there was large urban growth driven by the revival of trade and artisan activity. Cities were surrounded by walls and had an irregular shape inside, adapting to the topography and the result of previous unplanned construction. If the city grew, it had to do so outside the walls, leading to the appearance of suburbs.
• Christian Cities: These cities were developed in the northern half of the peninsula, in areas conquered from the Muslims. They had a defensive and religious role, were protected by walls, and dominated by a church or cathedral. During the Middle Ages, cities emerged along the Camino de Santiago. Medieval trade developed considerably, allowing the growth of cities like Segovia.
• Muslim Spain: The urban plan must be considered from another perspective, particularly in southern Spain. The Muslim occupation disrupted the plans of some cities and resulted in the appearance of others. The map is a maze of streets. The Medina existed, where the mosque, the citadel, and the palace of government were walled in, along with the zoco. Outside were neighborhoods or suburbs, where artisans and poor families settled.
• Renaissance: The city kept the features inherited from the Middle Ages with a few extensions and only saw the appearance of significant buildings. The internal space of existing cities was transformed, growing with new neighborhoods and suburbs, and architecture developed as an important element of the urban landscape. Urban poverty contrasted with architectural splendor. During this time, the Plaza Mayor appeared, a quadrangular space for community use and public activities. Churches, monasteries, and public and private buildings, such as town halls and palaces of wealthy families, were built around them. The Plaza Mayor of Madrid, completed in 1617, is from this time. During the sixteenth century, the orthogonal plane was a staple of the Renaissance urban plan, used in a very hierarchical urban area. The main buildings were located next to the Plaza Mayor, and adjacent streets housed homes and craft workshops clustered in guilds. Cities had very different functions: some Castilian towns had an important economic role with large farming, livestock, craft, and commercial activities. In southern Spain, several cities stood out due to booming trade with America, while others were important for their agriculture or quality of craftsmanship. Madrid and Valladolid were important political centers due to the presence of the Court.
• Baroque (18th Century): Absolute monarchs attempted to capture power in the cities. Monumentality began to be established. Urban policy primarily focused on the capitals and cities where the Court was established. Cities were embellished with fountains, gardens, and large plazas. Carlos III implemented urban theories of the period in Madrid, with monumental gates at the main entrances to the city, opening large garden walks, and improving and beautifying the cities where the monarchs were temporarily established. There was also interest in the functional aspects of construction projects, such as sewerage, water supply, and garbage collection. The monarchy’s concern for all social issues was reflected in the improvement of cities. Urban planning was carried out, with the core being the rehabilitation of disabled settlement areas. Under the reign of Carlos III, the Sierra Morena was repopulated, creating New Plant cities with Hippodamian plans.

B- The Industrial City

During the late nineteenth century, a process of strong urbanization began. The Industrial Revolution transformed the distribution of the population in the territory and the structure of cities, which became an economic focus and attracted the rural population. Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Madrid were the main centers of industrialization and population growth. Several factors must be taken into account:

• Industrial Location: The installation of factories benefited some towns that began growing rapidly, while other cities were marginalized in the industrial process. Factors included the existence of capital to invest, the presence of mines in the territory, and the development of transport.
• Population Growth: Since the nineteenth century, there was strong growth in urban and rural areas affected by lower mortality rates. The poor living conditions in rural areas and the greater possibilities offered by new industrial centers led to intense migration to cities. Cities were not prepared to receive a growing population, resulting in the need for housing, infrastructure, and services. This led to the emergence of new working-class neighborhoods with poor hygiene and social unrest.
• The Railroad: Zones became more accessible and better communicated.
• The Confiscation: The passage of Church property to the State increased the buildable area. It was used by the State or by the bourgeoisie to carry out urban projects, including housing, public buildings, and expansion of communication routes. This affected everything, especially in Madrid.

During the industrial stage, Spanish cities converged on two different urban realities:

• The Planned City: For the urban bourgeoisie, this was a new area of investment and profit. Solutions were sought for urban problems, leading to the initiation of growth planning to curb disorderly expansion and improve the quality of life. Necessary work was undertaken, such as the demolition of fences and walls that prevented the expansion of the city, improving road infrastructure and the availability of supplies, and developing transport. Extensions were a model of bourgeois neighborhood planning, with the objectives of improving living conditions and traffic flow. Through streets with an orthogonal plane, better use of land was achieved, allowing the construction of large blocks of houses with shops on the lower floors. The high prices of the lots meant that the extensions were occupied by the bourgeois social class. Disadvantaged social groups occupied the extensions furthest from the center, living in poorer quality housing. The disorder in cities prevented the development of transport routes, hindering fluidity. From the late nineteenth century, there were trends that led to the desire to bring the countryside to the city. The garden city idea emerged: The clearest example was the Ciudad Lineal in Madrid, designed by Arturo Soria, who planned a garden city several kilometers long. It consisted of two nuclei joined by a very wide main street with houses built on both sides, each with a garden plot and orchard. The central space of the route would be used for traffic. The idea of bringing the countryside to the city, along with the fact that the urban bourgeoisie was reluctant to leave the inner city, led to the construction of garden neighborhoods within the city itself. These opted for high-quality single-family buildings in areas of low population density.
• The Slums: A parallel process of slum growth developed in a disorderly manner. The massive influx of people to work in industries concentrated the majority of immigrants in poor neighborhoods with large blocks of flats, no services, lack of open space, and poor communication infrastructure. The uncontrolled urban growth spread to nearby rural towns, invading some areas. This peripheral growth led to the emergence of suburbs that lacked services. In these neighborhoods, where the population had fewer resources and no access to housing, shacks were built on rural land, alongside factories and warehouses. Spanish industrial cities were dotted with shantytowns or very low-quality housing. These were gradually absorbed by the central city and now form part of it.

C- The City Today

During the 1960s, there was a rural exodus, which led to a significant imbalance in the distribution of the population. Some cities began to grow rapidly, affecting their morphology and urban structure. The built-up area of cities expanded, and large suburbs were created along the main communication routes. The urban periphery is divided into different areas with different morphology, functions, and social contrasts. Residential neighborhoods in the periphery are of different kinds:

1. Marginal Neighborhoods: Substandard housing or slums, built on land illegally and without any urban planning. People who settled in nearby rural areas built their own houses out of scrap materials, becoming marginalized. Over time, these villages were consolidated, and slums were replaced by high-rise blocks and integrated into the urban plan. Campaigns have been carried out to eradicate slums and resettle the population in social housing.
2. Public Housing: Overcrowding and lack of planning led to state intervention to stop the growth of slums. Public housing was built with state aid and low sales prices, which in some cases became known as targeted villages. Example: The UVA (Units Neighborhood Absorption), built in prefabricated barracks temporarily.
3. Private Development Housing Estates: Dormitory towns emerged from the 1960s onwards. These nuclei were located in towns near large cities because there was a land supply at lower prices, making the houses cheaper. Currently, these commuter towns are part of the metropolitan area near the central city.
4. Industrial Estates: In some cases, control was implemented to prevent a negative environmental impact. Today, new industrial spaces are created on the periphery, in areas of high environmental quality, featuring open spaces and equipment to install business parks and technology areas. Areas of lesser quality are intended for firms with fewer resources and predominantly industrial activities.
5. Detached Houses: From the 1980s onwards, there was a proliferation of detached houses, open neighborhoods with residential buildings, or townhouses. These are mainly used by the middle class or higher social classes seeking more attractive spaces.