The central theme of this book is the changing spatial pattern of human activities during the last 2,500 years of Europe's history. Professor Pounds argues that three factors have determined the locations of human activities: the environment, the attitudes and forms of social organization of the many different peoples of Europe and lastly, the levels of technology. Within the broad framework of the interrelationships of environment, society and technology, several important themes pursued from the fifth century BC to the early twentieth century: settlement and agriculture, the growth of cities, the development of manufacturing and the role of trade. Underlying each of these themes are the discussions of political organization and population. Although the book is based in part of Professor Pound's magisterial three volumes An Historical Geography of Europe (1977, 1980, 1985), it was written especially for students and readers interested in a general survey of the subject.
An Historical Geography of Europe Abridged version
Description
Table of Contents
Preface; Introduction; 1. The physical basis of European history; Part I. The classical civilisations; 2. Europe in the classical period; Part II. The Middle Ages; 3. From the second to the ninth century; 4. Europe in the age of Charlemagne; 5. From the ninth to the fourteenth century; 7. The late Middle Ages; Part III. Modern Europe; 8. Renaissance Europe; 9. From the sixteenth to the nineteenth century; Part IV. The Industrial Revolution and after; 10. Europe on the eve of the Industrial Revolution; 11. The nineteenth century; 12. Europe on the eve of World War I; Index.