History of the the Burgundy region

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An insight of Burgundy history

The Paleolithic age

At certain times the temperature in Burgundy rose enough between ice-ages for certain types of tortoise and other animals to be found in the valleys of the Yonne and the Cure. Signs of human industries are to found in again the Yonne area and the Saône and Loire, where large amounts of single sided and double faced flint stones have been found, it is only in the Morvan, and on the plateau of the Côte d'0r, where signs of life in Burgundy are negligible. During the middle Paleolithic times (120 000 to 35 000 BC), begins a long period of temperate climate, where the forest began to develop and warm species of animals such as the Merck Rhinoceros. Then the forest retreated in front of the conifer trees and signs of deer and boar appeared.

In Burgundy signs are to be found in many areas such as the Auxois and the hills of Macon. With the superior Paleolithic age, men settled many times at the Rock of Solutre in the Saône and Loire, also known for the very large graveyard of horses which spreads across many hectares. Afterwards is the development of a flint stone called 'Laurel leaf' due to its surprising shape, by the Soultreen.

Then the arrival of the Magdalenien who hunted not only the horses but also the deer and bison. The life style of this period was not that different to the preceding ones, there was however much more use of blades and tools made of bones. In Burgundy at the village of Racy, traces of huts with walls made of mammoth tusk have been found. The greatest change for this time was the beginnings of art, with some remarkable examples at Arcy sur Cure in the centre of Burgundy.

The specialist conclude that Burgundy was not a region where people settled, but where the came during good hunting periods, unlike the times before, where signs of long settlement are to be found. Burgundy 8000 BC: With the end of the ice age the forest quickly recover the land, mainly with conifers but soon hazel and then oak and lime. The animals rapidly change and deer and wild boar replace horses and reindeer. The men also change lifestyles and begin collecting vegetation and shell fish from the rivers, the tools change dramatically, traces of humans are to be found everywhere except in the Yonne, even in the Morvan region, people lived on the summits of the hills, which leads us to believe that the forest was much different than it is today.

The Neolithic age

The Neolithic age in Burgundy has a climate very similar to that of now, this period stretches from 55000 to 2 000 BC, and then 2000 to 1800 BC where metal appeared. During this time the life of men complete changes, Lives are based not purely on hunting, but on livestock and agriculture. The main species are cattle, pork sheep and goats. Wheat is cultivated and hunting becomes secondary. Agriculture forces the tribes to settle down and build real homes and small villages. Stones are not completely forgotten, as arrowheads are still made, but they are then polished and axes and scissors are made. The settling also permits the discovery of clay and pottery. With all this factors, the small groups of people began to grow in size, as the basic hygiene of life became better. This also forced the people to move in search of other lads to cultivate, and they brought with them their own techniques and traditions. People came to Burgundy following the Danube and moving north from the Mediterranean. With the arrival of people from the Danube, Burgundy saw the first large house constructions 20 to 30 meters long.

Under the Roman Empire

Alise-Sainte-Reine and Vercingétorix

The rise of the Dukes

In 880 A.D. the power of Burugndy begins to spread with the Burgundian leader "Ricahrd the Justice", the influence spreads.

Finally becoming part of France

In 1477 and following the death of Chales le Temeraire, the king of France, Louis XI brinbgs the Dukedom of Burgundy under the crown.

To be continued

We hope that you have found this information concerning the Burgundy useful.

The history of Burgundy