Which of the following explains urban hierarchy?

a way of ordering cities with the largest population
a way to measure the longevity of a city
a way of ordering cities to their surrounding market
a way to rank the greatest ancient cities

a way of ordering cities to their surrounding market

The correct answer is: a way of ordering cities to their surrounding market.

Urban hierarchy refers to a way of ordering cities based on their size and function within a larger regional or national context. It is a system that categorizes cities based on their level of economic, social, and political importance relative to other cities. This hierarchy is established by considering factors such as population size, economic activity, infrastructure, and services. The purpose of urban hierarchy is to understand the spatial patterns and relationships between different cities and their surrounding areas, particularly in terms of market relationships and economic influence.

The correct answer is: "a way of ordering cities to their surrounding market."

Urban hierarchy is a concept used in urban geography that describes the organization and ranking of cities based on their size, function, and economic influence within a region. It involves categorizing cities based on their importance and relationships to other cities in terms of their economic and social interactions.

To identify the explanation that matches urban hierarchy, we can analyze the options provided:

- "A way of ordering cities with the largest population" does not fully capture the essence of urban hierarchy because it only considers population size as the sole criterion for ranking cities. Urban hierarchy takes into account various factors such as economic function, market influence, and spatial relationships.

- "A way to measure the longevity of a city" is not an accurate explanation of urban hierarchy because it focuses on the age or historical significance of a city, rather than its position within a network of cities.

- "A way to rank the greatest ancient cities" is also not an accurate explanation of urban hierarchy. While historical significance may be considered in some cases, urban hierarchy primarily focuses on the contemporary economic and spatial relationships between cities.

- "A way of ordering cities to their surrounding market" is the correct explanation. Urban hierarchy classifies cities based on their role and function within their regional economies and the extent of their influence on the surrounding market. This classification system allows us to understand the economic interdependencies between cities and their position within the larger urban system.

In summary, urban hierarchy is a way of ordering cities based on their economic significance and spatial relationships, particularly in relation to their surrounding market.