Changing economies, changing politics

Ironbridge Gorge, once defined by its industrial might and the allure of its 'sublime horrors,' exemplifies how cultural landscapes evolve with shifting economies and politics. The European Landscape Convention highlights that landscapes are shaped by human interaction with nature, often driven by food security needs and surplus production. This dynamic process leads to distinctive regional features, from cultivation patterns to settlement styles, which today attract tourists seeking the same aesthetic appeal as did Europe's grand tourists of the past. The study balances this historical perspective with an analysis of how contending groups have influenced landscape development through political processes, underscoring the interplay between economic change and governance in shaping cultural heritage.

Price, C. (2023). Changing economies, changing politics. Routledge Handbook of Cultural Landscape Practice, 500–514. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315203119-57