MYP History Urbanisation and Demographic Change Key Definitions

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Pre-industrial economies and society

Industrial technologies and mechanisation

Urbanisation and demographic change

Labour, working conditions and class systems

Industrialisation and global impact

Scientific and technological advancements

Inventions that reshaped society

Communication and transportation developments

Social reforms driven by innovation

Historical trade networks

Colonial and imperial trade systems

Globalisation of markets

Exploitation, inequality and economic dependence

Housing, work and leisure

Gender roles and family structures

Technology in daily life

Social policy and quality of life

Public health before modern medicine

Medical discoveries and breakthroughs

Epidemics, pandemics and responses

Healthcare systems and access

Artistic and literary movements

Cultural identity and expression

Social reform movements

Youth and counterculture movements

Enlightenment and early political thought

Liberalism, conservatism and socialism

Nationalism and identity

Ideologies in the 20th century

Causes of major conflicts

Impacts of war on societies

Peace processes and diplomacy

International conflict resolution

Rise and governance of empires

Imperialism and colonisation

Decolonisation and independence movements

Supranational institutions

Origins of nationalism

Independence and unification movements

National identity and political change

Case studies of nationalist movements

Civil rights struggles

Social justice movements

Protest strategies and activism

Government responses and reforms

Leadership and influence

Grassroots change and community action

Innovators and disruptors

Ethical decision-making and responsibility

Political inaction and governance failures

Humanitarian crises

Environmental neglect

Social and economic consequences

MYP History Urbanisation and Demographic Change Key Definitions

Definition

Demographic Change

Demographic change refers to shifts in the characteristics of a population over time, such as size, age structure, birth rates, death rates, and migration patterns.

Example

19th-century Britain: Population nearly doubled between 1750 and 1850 due to better diets and falling death rates.
Industrial cities: Urban areas became younger as many migrants were teenagers or young adults looking for work.
Decline of rural areas: Countryside populations shrank as workers moved away.
Modern: Countries like South Korea and Italy today are experiencing demographic change through ageing populations and falling birth rates.

Definition

Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was a period of major economic, technological, and social change (about 1750–1850) when production shifted from handmade goods in homes to machine-made goods in factories. This transformation led to faster manufacturing, new forms of transport and energy, rapid urban growth, and significant changes in how people lived and worked.

Definition

Urbanization

Urbanization is the process where large numbers of people move from rural countryside areas to towns and cities, causing cities to grow quickly in size and population.

Example

Britain, 1800s: Millions of rural workers moved to cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and Liverpool to work in factories.
Japan, Meiji Era: People left farming villages to work in new industrial centres like Tokyo and Osaka.
USA, early 1900s: Immigrants and rural Americans moved to booming cities such as New York and Chicago for jobs in industries and services.
Modern: China (1990–present) experienced one of the largest rural-to-urban migrations in history, with massive growth in cities like Shenzhen and Shanghai.

Definition

Demographic Change

Demographic change refers to shifts in the characteristics of a population over time, such as size, age structure, birth rates, death rates, and migration patterns.

Example

19th-century Britain: Population nearly doubled between 1750 and 1850 due to better diets and falling death rates.
Industrial cities: Urban areas became younger as many migrants were teenagers or young adults looking for work.
Decline of rural areas: Countryside populations shrank as workers moved away.
Modern: Countries like South Korea and Italy today are experiencing demographic change through ageing populations and falling birth rates.

Definition

Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was a period of major economic, technological, and social change (about 1750–1850) when production shifted from handmade goods in homes to machine-made goods in factories. This transformation led to faster manufacturing, new forms of transport and energy, rapid urban growth, and significant changes in how people lived and worked.

Definition

Urbanization

Urbanization is the process where large numbers of people move from rural countryside areas to towns and cities, causing cities to grow quickly in size and population.

Example

Britain, 1800s: Millions of rural workers moved to cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and Liverpool to work in factories.
Japan, Meiji Era: People left farming villages to work in new industrial centres like Tokyo and Osaka.
USA, early 1900s: Immigrants and rural Americans moved to booming cities such as New York and Chicago for jobs in industries and services.
Modern: China (1990–present) experienced one of the largest rural-to-urban migrations in history, with massive growth in cities like Shenzhen and Shanghai.