ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the persistence of certain aspects of production, such as agriculture and pastoralism, are remarkable for their resilience in the face of changing economic, technological, social and political realities. The idea of resilience emphasizes a maintenance of social-ecological relationships that allows for change and adaptability while at the same time retaining a general continuity of form, be it of land use practices or of landscapes. The chapter suggests that the historical resilience of the Burgundian landscape may be a model for how to study rural land use changes over time. It describes several main agrarian land use types in Burgundy and highlights specific facets of the landscapes that have persisted, evolved or disappeared over time. The agrarian economy of Burgundy has long produced a reliable source of wealth for the area’s elite: the Celtic Aedui polity from agricultural region had a lucrative trading network within Celtic Europe and beyond to the Roman Empire, exporting hams, horses and ironwork.
