Brittany essays

Brittany essays The particular significance of Brittany lies in its transformation from a region marginal to the rest of France, both culturally and economically, to a leading agricultural area of the country (Roger Dalton Brittany has traditionally suffered out migration, particularly of the younger population. So much so that the area was still under demographic pressure immediately after the end of the Second World War. Increases in farm sizes have reduced labour needs over the years. 235,000 farms in 1955, reduced to 175,000 in 1970 and to less than 80,000 in 1994 (Canevet, 1994). Four or five people per sq km were the areas worst recorded levels of population density within central Brittany. Low incomes and poverty increased emigration as over 1 million people left Brittany between 1860 and 1960. The possibilities of industries and increases in tertiary sectors looked bleak. So small peasant farms had no real choice but to try and intensify their crops and livestock. MAP showing agricultural region in need of aid. Brittany is an agricultural area, which had a very agricultural landscape. Substantial removal of Bocage, changed the landscape in preparation for the intensification of the agricultural economy in Brittany. Bocage is 'a chess board of little fields and meadows surrounded by hedgerow trees' (de Martonne, 1933) Losses of 7% of land to urban growth since 1970, and elevated areas in central Brittany have also been abandoned. This has resulted in a decline in land area, yet a greater usage of existing land. Area accounts for over one third of feedstuffs within France, and that is the reason why the large market within Brittany itself allows locals to get it for 10-12% less in value, thus allowing the agricultural and livestock sectors to thrive. Growing competition from abroad in the fishing industry has resulted in Brittany becoming an expensive place to fish. Breton's parliament was ...