An Historical Geography of France

ISBN-13: 9780521322089 / Angielski / Twarda / 1994 / 590 str.

Xavier De Planhol

Opis

In the first book of its kind to appear in the English language, two of France's leading scholars trace the historical geography of their country from its roots in the Roman province of Gaul to the present day. They demonstrate how, for centuries, France was little more than an ideological concept, and examine the relatively late development of a more complex territorial geography, involving political, religious, cultural, agricultural and industrial unities and diversities. Their conclusion is that it is only recently that France has achieved its territorial unity, and has overwritten the fragmentations of its past.

Recenzje

"..the book provides a clear framework for an easy understanding of the dominance of factors of unity over factors of unity over factors of dislocation affecting French history, and to a larger extent the French psyche. ,,,this Historical Geography of France is an absolute pleasure to read. ...this multi-purpose book is necessary addition to the library of all colleges or universities where French programs still carry some weight." Laurent Ditmann, European Studies Journal

Spis treści

List of figures; Preface; Part I. The Genesis of France: 1. The isthmus of Gaul; 2. The impact of Rome; 3. From Gaul to France; 4. The birth of France; Part II. The Traditional Organisation of the Territory of France: 5. The major divisions; 6. The secondary divisions; Part III. The Centralisation and Diversification of the French Space: 7. Paris and the Parisian centralisation; 8. Cultural action and reaction: unity and diversity; 9. The economic differentiation of space; 10. The rural exodus and urbanisation; 11. The France of large organisations; Notes; Guide to further reading; Bibliography; Index.