Highlands theory

The Highlands theory suggests that the mountainous or elevated regions of a country, known as the Highlands, are often historically less urbanized and economically developed than the lowland areas or plains. This pattern arises because highlands can be harder to access, less suitable for large-scale agriculture, and more difficult to develop infrastructure in. As a result, societies tend to be more dispersed and less densely populated in high-altitude regions, with urban centers concentrated in the more accessible and fertile lowlands. This concept helps explain variations in development and settlement patterns within countries that have significant mountainous terrain.