The Geohistorical Approach: Methods and Applications PDF
Preview The Geohistorical Approach: Methods and Applications
Springer Geography Silvia Elena Piovan The Geohistorical Approach Methods and Applications Springer Geography Advisory Editors Mitja Brilly, Faculty of Civil & Geodetic Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia Richard A. Davis, School of Geosciences, Department of Geology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA Nancy Hoalst-Pullen, Department of Geography & Anthropology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia, USA Michael Leitner, Department of Geography & Anthropology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA Mark W. Patterson, Department of Geography & Anthropology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia, USA Márton Veress, Department of Physical Geography, University of West Hungary, Szombathely, Hungary The Springer Geography series seeks to publish a broad portfolio of scientific books, aiming at researchers, students, and everyone interested in geographical research. The series includes peer-reviewed monographs, edited volumes, textbooks, and conference proceedings. It covers the major topics in geography and geographical sciences including, but not limited to; Economic Geography, Landscape and Urban Planning, Urban Geography, Physical Geography and Environmental Geography. Springer Geography—now indexed in Scopus More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/10180 Silvia Elena Piovan The Geohistorical Approach Methods and Applications Silvia Elena Piovan Department of Historical and Geographic Sciences and the Ancient World University of Padova Padova, Italy ISSN 2194-315X ISSN 2194-3168 (electronic) Springer Geography ISBN 978-3-030-42438-1 ISBN 978-3-030-42439-8 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42439-8 © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland To my parents Bruno and Cristina, my brother Stefano, and Michael Edward Foreword The history and processes of anthropogenic changes to Earth’s environmental sys- tems have resulted in a transition of the earth sciences towards a broader and inte- grative view of these environmental systems. These changes have become an area of vigorous study with acceleration of the rapidity in which landscapes have been humanized during the Anthropocene Epoch. This focus on human-induced change places a new emphasis on interactions between physical systems and humans from prehistory through history. In this transition, physical scientists must find ways to integrate human agency into the natural processes that govern environmental sys- tems. Throughout the history of the natural sciences, most analysts worked hard to separate physical subsystems from the broader context of other systems with which they interact—especially from human activities—in order to understand how the physical subsystems operate. However, attempts to study physical systems in isola- tion provided a limited understanding of processes governing a humanized Earth. New methods are needed that recognize human processes of change and integrate those processes into models of physical systems. An essential element of identify- ing human processes in a particular geographic location is knowledge of the history of human activities in that place. These histories are best developed by methods that combine science and history within a geographic context. This book defines a geohistorical approach for combining natural science, his- tory, and geography, describes its methods and data sources, and provides interna- tional examples of its use in practice. A series of interdisciplinary methodologies and viewpoints are used in this approach to bridge historical and scientific research. The reader is shown how geohistory can span history and natural science by select- ing information, methods, and goals from geography, history, and the sciences that can identify and reconstruct changes to environmental systems. For example, physi- cal evidence from fields such as pedology, stratigraphy, sedimentology, geoarcheol- ogy, paleoecology, paleohydrology, archeology, and other aspects of the physical geography of a place may be combined with historical evidence from documentary records such as maps, survey notes, newspapers, or diaries. Combining historical and scientific data in a regional analysis often requires geospatial science, so this book devotes chapters to appropriate topics of cartography, geographic information vii viii Foreword systems, and remote sensing that allow multiscale, multivariate, and time-variate analyses. An important first step that is necessary to the integration of human agency into the natural sciences is for the culture of scientific research and knowledge acquisi- tion to recognize the importance and necessity of human history in order to explain ecological and surficial geological changes. Conversely, historical methodologies must adopt rigorous practices that produce information conducive to scientific research. Environmental historians have partially opened this door, but the emer- gence of a true geohistorical methodology is contingent upon the integration of physical science with history. This is a two-way street with reciprocity for both practices. Physical science can inform, constrain, and validate historical knowledge, while history can lead to scientific hypothesis formulation, constrain hypothesis acceptance or rejection, and validate results of scientific knowledge of environmen- tal processes and landscape evolution. Three common objectives of geohistory include reconstructions of what land- scapes were like in the past, how and when they changed, and what human activities or other processes were involved in landscape evolution. The geohistory approach is particularly valuable for these objectives. It can facilitate the use of historical evidence by scientists who otherwise may not fully value historical data or may disregard documentary forms of contemporary accounts as anecdotal. Although his- torical data can be qualitative, highly biographical, or idiosyncratic, it has great potential as empirical evidence that can constrain models and scientific conclusions. In fact, careful selection of appropriate historical data can provide environmental information that can be quantified and spatially distributed allowing direct applica- tion to spatial models for specific time periods. Scientists wishing to know the fun- damentals and to gain guidance on the many geohistorical methods will appreciate the breadth of this book with many specific examples. On a personal basis, Silvia Elena Piovan is an excellent example of a practicing environmental scientist involved in geohistorical reconstructions. Her own research combines field methods, such as soil coring and mapping of long-abandoned roads and canals, with historical cartography and contemporary accounts. It is entirely appropriate that Dr. Piovan honed her skills in the Venetian Plain of northeastern Italy where the human history is deep and rich and where the landscapes are highly humanized. She works at the University of Padova, one of the oldest universities in the world—founded in 1222. Padova has a long history of research and knowledge acquisition, as well as a foundation based on Roman roads, waterways, and urban- ization. Geohistorical studies are made possible by the retention and organization of historical documents in such an academic environment and are made practical in such a physical environment with a long cultural history. Thus, it is not coincidental that the first book entitled to the geohistorical approach emerges from Padova. Lincoln, CA, USA L. Allan James University of South Carolina Columbia, SC, USA December 1, 2019 Preface Although the author comes from a background of the geological and geographical sciences, numerous research and teaching experiences have made her aware of the wide, gray boundary between the methods and techniques of the physical, social, and human sciences as they are applied to the studies of environment, territory, and landscape. The idea of this book comes from many interesting talks with colleagues and students of different national origins and with diverse backgrounds, such as geo- morphology, geography, history, ecology, botany, and archeology; we discussed the role of methods shared in the study of environment, territory, and landscape. These conversations consistently provide evidence for the importance of a multi- and interdisciplinary approach to investigate the evolution of the environment, territory, and landscape through both space and time. Furthermore, despite common aware- ness among geographers and historians that the sources of historical data (from the physical and human sciences) are fundamental to the understanding of the present environments, territories, and landscapes, few books are available that describe these common approaches and relevant methods. Many books focus strictly on geo- graphic information science (GIScience) approaches such as geographic informa- tion systems (GIS), cartography, GPS, and remote sensing; while providing depth for a GIScience method, they miss the broader presentation of other harmonious and symbiotic methods. This book provides a broad perspective on methods, including GIScience meth- ods that together provide a geohistorical approach to studying environmental, ter- ritorial, and landscape evolution. It was written primarily for bachelor’s and master’s students in many disciplines that encourage multi- and interdisciplinary approaches characterizing the geohistorical paradigm; among these are geography, geomor- phology, environmental studies/sciences, ecology, history, and archeology. Students who are not GIScientists but are often involved in an interdisciplinary approach would also be interested in reading this. Furthermore, the spatial history paradigm, characterized by the integration of information and data from different sources and methods (in type, space, and time distribution), has increasingly become a field of ix x Preface application of the geohistorical approach that provides a more complete interpreta- tion of the observed phenomena. While the book will not provide enough depth for a student to master the meth- ods described in the text, it will be of interest to researchers and professionals who desire a quick, up-to-date overview of the opportunities. Padova, Italy Silvia Elena Piovan
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