Jon Mathieu Libri

Die Beschreibung der alpinen Natur und Bevölkerung ist im Allgemeinen verbunden mit dem Selbstverständnis und sozialen Umfeld des Autors. Daraus folgt, dass der Alpendiskurs von Land zu Land stärker differiert als bisher angenommen. Dieser Forschungsbericht befasst sich mit der Wahrnehmung der Alpen in der europäischen Kulturgeschichte. Er schliesst auch die bisher vernachlässigten alpinen Stimmen in die Untersuchung ein. Wie ging die Bevölkerung im Berggebiet mit den Diskursen um, die von den Städten an sie herangetragen wurden? Legte sie sich Identitäten zu, die das Alpine zurückstellten oder gerade betonten? La description de la nature et de la population alpines est en général liée aussi bien à l’image que les auteurs se font d’eux-mêmes qu’à leur milieu social. Cela explique que le discours alpin diffère davantage selon les pays que ce qui a été considéré jusqu’ici. Ce recueil de contributions se penche sur la perception des Alpes dans l’histoire de la culture européenne. Il intègre dans la recherche les voix alpines négligées jusqu’à présent. Comment a réagi la population de ces régions aux discours sur la montagne et les montagnards tenus par les gens de la plaine ? Se construisait-elle une identité soulignant ou dénigrant plutôt le côté alpin ?

Avvalendosi di numerosi documenti e dati statistici, Jon Mathieu smentisce molti luoghi comuni che resistono ancora oggi anche in ambito storiografico, e dimostra come le Alpi non abbiano mai rappresentato un mondo alla rovescia rispetto alla pianura e men che meno un corpo estraneo rispetto all' Europa. Due sono in sostanza gli interrogativi cui questo ampio affresco storico intende rispondere. Il primo, di carattere economico, concerne le relazioni tra popolazione, sviluppo e ambiente alpino. Il secondo affronta in una prospettiva sociopolitica il complesso rapporto tra struttura agraria, società e sviluppo della civiltà moderna.

In the 1700s, Jean-Jacques Rousseau celebrated the Alps as the quintessence of the triumph of nature over the “horrors” of civilization. Now available in English, History of the Alps, 1500-1900: Environment, Development, and Society provides a precise history of one of the greatest mountain range systems in the world. Jon Mathieu’s work disproves a number of commonly held notions about the Alps, positioning them as neither an inversion of lowland society nor a world apart with respect to Europe. Mathieu’s broad historical portrait addresses both the economic and sociopolitical—exploring the relationship between population levels, development, and the Alpine environment, as well as the complex links between agrarian structure, society, and the development of modern civilization. More detailed analysis examines the relationship between various agrarian structures and shifting political configurations, several aspects of family history between the late Middle Ages and the turn of the twentieth century, and exploration of the Savoy, Grisons, and Carinthia regions.

Exploring the sacredness of mountains like Mount Kailash and Uluru, this study examines the spiritual practices of prayer and pilgrimage associated with these sites. It contrasts these traditions with Christianity's historical detachment from nature, highlighting tensions during colonialism. The work discusses the impact of decolonization and the ecological movement on the interpretation of sacred mountains, illustrating their significance as symbols of cultural diversity and their roles in contemporary issues like gender justice and environmental protection.

This groundbreaking work explores the concept of Earth's three-dimensionality through a historical lens, examining how our understanding of geography and spatial relationships has evolved over time. It delves into the interplay between human perception and the physical world, highlighting key historical moments and figures that have shaped our comprehension of the planet. By integrating history with geographical thought, the book offers a unique perspective on how we visualize and interact with the Earth.

Focusing on the historical interplay between environment and society, this work challenges misconceptions about the Alps, presenting them as integral to European development rather than isolated from it. It offers a comprehensive analysis of the region's economic and sociopolitical evolution from 1500 to 1900, examining population dynamics, agrarian structures, and family history. The study also highlights the complex relationships within the Savoy, Grisons, and Carinthia regions, providing a nuanced understanding of how the Alps shaped modern civilization.

Stretching 1,200 kilometres across six countries, the colossal mountains of the Alps dominate Europe, geographically and historically. Enlightenment thinkers felt the sublime and magisterial peaks were the very embodiment of nature, Romantic poets looked to them for divine inspiration, and Victorian explorers tested their ingenuity and courage against them. Located at the crossroads between powerful states, the Alps have played a crucial role in the formation of European history, a place of intense cultural fusion as well as fierce conflict between warring nations. A diverse range of flora and fauna have made themselves at home in this harsh environment, which today welcomes over 100 million tourists a year. Leading Alpine scholar Jon Mathieu tells the story of the people who have lived in and been inspired by these mountains and valleys, from the ancient peasants of the Neolithic to the cyclists of the Tour de France. Far from being a remote and backward corner of Europe, the Alps are shown by Mathieu to have been a crucible of new ideas and technologies at the heart of the European story.

Dieses Buch erzählt erstmals die Geschichte und Entwicklung der Landschaft in der Schweiz und beschreibt dabei einen Zeitraum von rund 20‘000 Jahren. Behandelt wird dabei nicht nur der häufig im Vordergrund stehende Alpenraum, sondern darüber hinaus das Mittelland und der Jura. Geschrieben von ausgewiesenen Fachleuten, geht es in dieser Darstellung um die entscheidenden ökologischen, kulturellen und politischen Aspekte, die die Geschichte dieses besonderen Landschaftsraums geprägt und verändert haben. Das Buch berücksichtigt den neuesten Forschungsstand und wendet sich an eine breite Leserschaft ohne spezielle Vorkenntnisse.

Dieses Buch betrachtet die vielgestaltige Welt der Berge und ihre Entwicklung während der letzten 500 Jahre. Es unternimmt damit erstmals den Versuch, die Dreidimensionalität der Erde auch aus historisch-humanwissenschaftlicher Sicht zu untersuchen.