Final answer:
In traditional settlements from North Africa to the Middle East, essential urban features included high population density, advanced social organization, and a specialized trade and agricultural system, unlike the nomadic lifestyle associated with arid regions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The essential features of an urban area in many traditional settlements from North Africa to the Middle East are characterized by their high population density, advanced social organization, and specialized systems of trade and agriculture. Urban centers in this region typically had a combination of administrative control to manage the complex logistics of supplying food from rural to urban areas, specialized craft production, and a stratified social structure culminating in monumental architecture and urban planning. These areas were often located along rivers or in environments with sufficient rainfall to sustain agriculture, unlike the nomadic lifestyle, which was more common in arid regions not suitable for farming.
One of the distinguishing features of early civilizations that arose in Mesopotamia was the development of large urban populations that required sophisticated systems of food production and distribution, advanced technology, and strong social structures to ensure stability. These cities were the antithesis of nomadic lifestyles, which persisted in less fertile regions.
Structured urban planning was also evident, with cities and villages featuring major streets laid out on a grid pattern and drainage systems to channel waste water outside the city. Importantly, these urban areas became hubs of religious and trade networks, connecting various parts of the ancient world. While nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples remained integral to the ancient world by connecting urban areas and providing crucial resources, the hallmark of these urban societies was their settled, concentrated populations engaged in intensive agriculture and trade, supported by an advanced social and technological infrastructure.