A Study On Early Urbanization In Britain

As the first urbanized country, the Britain early urbanization process roughly coincided with the first industrial revolution according to the urbanization and early urbanization rules. In the mid of 18^th century the industrial revolution began from Britain and the urbanization also tread on the heel of it; By the mid of 19^th century the industrial revolution had nearly been completed in Britain, and the population in the city had reached the 50% of the population of the whole country. At that time the early urbanization ended. The study of the early urbanization has great significance in exploring not only the rules of the urbanization and early urbanization but also in the relationship between economic developments and the urbanization, which also can give the developing country a useful lesson. The foreign scholar has made researches widely in the urbanization. But our country has not made a deep study in this area. So the study and scholar construction is necessary to be done.At first, the study of early urbanization commences and development should analyze the economic impetus system. The agricultural revolution brought about the quick development of Britain agriculture, which became the solid base of Britain urbanization. The transfer of Britain spare population brought by urbanization had provided the important carrier origin and free labor population for the development of urban economy. The Britain foreign trade development which was brought by the business revolution had promoted the advancement of Britain city. The unified domestic market and free market system's form and perfection had quickened the speed of Britain urban development. The industrialization brought by the industrial revolution had lead to the centralization of economy and population, brought the benign mutual reaction, conformed the Britain social economical system lead by the cities, and promoted Britain urbanization process by the chain reaction of the industry. The five aspects had provided the important impetus for Britain urbanization's commence. But these factors affection were not identical completely. Only the industrialization brought by the industrial revolution was the most important reason and exert the core affection in the impetus system.The early urbanization of England mainly includes the early population's urbanization, the distribution changes of urban space, the urbanization of the early economy and early living style, and so on. The problem of urbanization belongs not to the contents of urbanization, but ties up with it.Analyzing urbanization from the respect of population, in the early urbanization period from the late 18^th Century to the mid of 19^th Century, increases on urban population quantity and proportion of Britain were unprecedented, more significantly, urban population proportion broke through at first time, which was first case not only in Britain but also in the whole world. Taking this as chiefly index, Britain became first urbanization country in the world. In early urbanization period of Britain, its population urbanization was a population increasing stage that took immigration as main means, with large scale and quick speed, but its final trend was a population increasing mode that took immigration as main means. City distribution of Britain altered greatly, and took on pattern that distribution was inclined to concentration, regional difference protruded and center of gravity of development moved to the north. The reasons that caused such variation are many, but mainly was elements such as industrialization and correlative energy sources, raw materials, and traffic, etc. Alteration of city distribution of Britain in early urbanization period disclosed close connection among economy development, industrialization, and urbanization.From the respect of economy, urbanization of Britain in early period mainly has two reasons. First is development, which is that urban total economy amount and economy strength was increasing unprecedentedly, all kinds of cities such as industrial cities, port cities, leisure cities etc. developed vigorously, and urban economy quickly developed into main body of national economy. Second is transformation, which is that production and organization manner of industrial city transformed greatly, modern industries began to form in urban economy and occupy leading position gradually, and other type cities transformed economic function in tide of industrialization and urbanization. In the process of economic urbanization, specialization and diversification of urban economy became more and more obvious, but urban economy showed obvious transition.From the respect of life style, urbanization of Britain in early period appeared characters such as diversification, popularization, normalization, commercialization, and differentiation of stratums. New urban work styles, leisure life modes, and some important changes on life character occupied social culture life gradually. At the same time, many original urban life traditions remained. Although rural life was influence by urban life, but has limited changes.In the development process of urbanization of Britain in early period, due to quick expansion of cities, population and economic activities got together in cities, which occurred conflict with initial limited urban resources. Incoordination of resource allocation, incoordination among population, economic urbanization, and resource urbanization of two processes of industrialization and urbanization leaded cities of Britain, especially industrial cities appeared serious problems such as pollution, sanitation, housing, and crime etc. In early period of urbanization, Britain governments took policy of nothing accomplishing and allowing unrestrained freedom to urban governance and until end of early period of urbanization took some measures aiming at problems of urbanization, but got little effects. The period of early urbanization was unable and impossible to accomplish tasks of controlling and solving problems of urbanization.In all, early urbanization of Britain was spontaneous and fast, taking concentration as main, having close connection with economy development, especially with industrialization, and was unbalanced development. It had obvious immixture and transition, and was extensive growth. Development in quantity is superior to quality. It was dominated by principle of unrestrained freedom. This urbanization progress before 200 years provided urban development of modern developing countries with precious experience and reference.