法國的歷史地理學

Historical Geography in France

法國地理學有自己的特色，法國的歷史地理學亦復如此，很強調歷史，法國史地關係密切，大學歷史學系的學生，必須選修地理課程，地理學系的學生，也必須選修歷史課程，這是法國歷史地理學一個很重要的特徵。法國的區域研究充滿了聚落、作物、農業方法與結構、排水及鄉村工業的歷史地理。本文主要討論以下五方面：歷史地理與地理歷史、歷史地理學與年鑑學派、法國地理學中的歷史觀點、《法國歷史地理及地理學史委員會會刊》及法國地理學者研究法國歷史地理的成果。德普朗奧的《法國歷史地理》，代表20世紀末法國歷史地理研究的成果及法國歷史地理研究成熟的水平。

French historical geography possesses unique characteristics. In France, geography contains a strong emphasis in using the historical perspective. The disciplines of history and geography have a close relationship. In institutions of higher learning, students majoring in history must take geography courses, and vice versa. This is a distinguishing feature of French historical geography. Regional studies are replete with the historical geographies of settlement, crops, agricultural methods and structures, drainage, and rural industries. This paper identifies five aspects of French historical geography: (1) historical geography and geographical history, (2) historical geography and the Annales school, (3) the historical dimension of French geography, (4) the Bulletin du Commite Francais de Geographie Historique et d'Histoire de la Geographie, and (5) accomplishments of French geographers in studies of French historical geography. Xavier de Planhol's publication, An Historical Geography of France, reports that French historical geography came of age in the 20th century.