Abstract:
A branch of histo-humanistic geography, historical rural geography studies spatial changes in economy, society, population, tribes, culture, use of resourses and environmental problems of rural areas in historical phases. The aim of this study is summarizing the mutual relationship and function law between internal elements within the system of the rural region and the system of external regions so as to serve rural construction and harmonious development. Study of historical rural geography started very early in European countries and made very rich achievements, but it failed to call for obligatory concern in the field of historical geography in our country. Now it is high time to vigorously advance the study of historical rural geography, an indispensable and promising area of academic study, both in terms of the essential place of rural regions in our history of development and in terms of needs of constructing the new socialist country and of the wholesome development of historical geography.
