An Historical Geography of France [Paperback]

This 1994 book traces the historical geography of France from its roots in the Roman province of Gaul to the 1990s.In this 1994 book two of France's leading scholars trace the historical geography of their country from its roots in the Roman province of Gaul to the 1990s. Despite France's long history as an identifiable state they conclude that only in recent years has France truly achieved territorial unity.In this 1994 book two of France's leading scholars trace the historical geography of their country from its roots in the Roman province of Gaul to the 1990s. Despite France's long history as an identifiable state they conclude that only in recent years has France truly achieved territorial unity.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.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. [de Planhol] displays impressive scholarly and literary sl3´