History, Botany, and Economy. Intertwining Disciplines in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century

Between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the study of the economic potential of the plant kingdom was thriving in Europe. Almost everywhere, authorities and institutions encouraged experimentation in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors, sometimes promoting daring attempts at plant acclimatization. The study of the past played an important role in this collective state of mind projected toward progress and productivity. Naturalists and agriculturists analyzed the economic use of plant species practiced in previous centuries. This analysis took place by commenting on ancient authors and on treatises from previous centuries, but also by studying archival documentation. By integrating historical knowledge with agricultural expertise and knowledge of natural resources, scholars and authorities assessed in which areas it was best to invest, while at the same time trying to engage landowners and entrepreneurs. This paper proposes some examples from across Europe, then focusing on a case in the Napoleonic Era.