Abstract

VAN AUSDAL, Shawn. Half a Century of Historical Geography in North America. hist.crit. [online]. 2006, n.32, pp.198-234. ISSN 0121-1617.

This article recounts the development of historical geography in the North America over the last halfcentury by dividing it into three periods that account for both the richness of the field and its persistent marginality. In the 1950s and 60s, human and historical geographers studied places, giving discipline a strong cohesion. The distinctiveness of historical geography lay with its attention to the past. In the 19 0s, the discipline turned towards spatial patterns and laws. While some historical geographers changed with the current, other remained a bastion of tradition. In the last couple decades, human geographers have turned to social processes, and historical geographers have followed them, albeit more slowly. At the same time, geography has generally become much more attuned to history. Ironically, geographic works with a historical focus have become more fragmented than ever. For this reason, despite its current vitality, many historical geographers continue to feel marginal to the discipline.

Keywords : Historical geography; history of geography; Berkeley School.

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