ecumene

The term "ecumene" refers to the permanently inhabited portion of the Earth, distinguishing it from uninhabited or temporarily occupied areas. It can also describe the core region of a state with the densest population and most developed transportation networks. In anthropology, "ecumene" signifies a center of high culture from which surrounding regions are considered less developed or dependent. The concept is related to "ecumenopolis," a theoretical future city encompassing the entire world. Ekistics, the science of human settlements, studies all types of human settlements to foster harmony between inhabitants and their environments.123