Which statement correctly describes hierarchical diffusion?

• A. It spreads from major places through an urban network to smaller places.
• B. It spreads only through relocation of people.
• C. It flows through a chain of command or urban network from major places to smaller places.
• D. It requires technology diffusion along borders.

Answer: (C)

Hierarchical diffusion occurs when ideas or innovations spread through a hierarchy of places, moving from larger, influential locations to smaller ones along established networks. The diffusion starts in major places—like big cities or capitals—and travels through the connected pathways of urban systems or administrative hierarchies to progressively less central areas. This mechanism captures how influence travels through a chain of command or through an urban network, rather than requiring people to relocate or relying on border-bound technology transfer. So the statement that describes the flow from major places through a chain of command or urban network to smaller places best reflects this pattern.