An effect of transportation improvements on settlements was that

The development in transportation help the settlers reach the place that cannot be reached before.

It also make the people became more willing to live in a pretty far distance for their workplace, which increase the number of settlements even in places that have lesser amount of job opportunities. (since people can commute between their home and their workplaces everyday)

an important city to the south and the region's capital is c. kiev

answer; blank(1); /rises; blank(2); //increases;