Landscapes of agricultural specialisation: a forgotten theme in historic landscape research and management.

Abstract

Some of the most characteristic landscapes in Europe are the result of specialised types of agriculture. Although these landscapes are often cherished by the local population, they tend to be overlooked by most regional landscape classifications. This article, extending on the results of the EucaLand project, focuses on the historic landscapes of agricultural specialisation. It presents the history (main periods, life cycles) as well as the geography of these landscapes.