Die Sümpfe der Päpste. Eine Umweltgeschichte der Pontinischen Ebene in der Frühen Neuzeit

• Applicant: Dr. Ricarda Matheus
• Subject Area: Early Modern History
• Term: from 2010 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 183169557

The project is dealing with the case study of the Pontine Marshes (paludi pontine) within the Papal States. It is based on an analysis of the transforming process of this special landscape referring to ponding and bonification. The human-environmental relationship throughout early modern times will be examined under different aspects: Perception of the environment, conflicting use (in the context of the natural conditions and hydrological transformations), political and financial issues referring to the realization of an infrastructural large-scale project and economical resource conflicts. Besides, the role of the Agro pontino will be analyzed with regard to its linguistic and cartographic reception. A comparison between the Pontine Marshes with other well-known swamps and their reclamation will finally give information about the specifics of the transforming landscapes and the changing environmental perception from the late 16th to the 18th century.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants