The Characteristics of France -- Man and Things (Part 1): Man and Things

Author: Braudel
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1997-01-01
Features: In the second part of this book, "Man and Things," I chose to depict the basic framework of my country's history from both demographic and economic perspectives because population and economy are the most apparent and graspable signs of deep historical movements. How many people were there? How did the material wealth make human survival and reproduction possible? Or, how did they force people to move forward, break away from this or that path, and abandon these or those acquired positions? André Piguet called population "human resources," while G. Poivert further argued that population is the primary "indicator data," the "least arbitrary standard." In light of this, the first two chapters of this part will explore demographic issues, namely "French Population from Prehistoric Times to 1000 AD and Its Long-Term Cycles" and "French Population Since 1000 AD and Its Long-Term Evolution." Chapters three and four will focus on economic issues, with titles "Peasant Economy Until the 20th Century—Infrastructure" and "Peasant Economy Until the 20th Century—Superstructure."