Development of Sugar Industry in Hana Region in 19th Century and Its Impact on Landscape Character

The paper presents the results of a comparative landscape analysis focusing on changes in the usage of agricultural land in the 19th century. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of sugar beet growing on the landscape structure changes. Ethnographic region Hana was selected as study area because this region is one of the most important agricultural regions in the historic Czech Lands. The authors evaluated the changes in land use in the period between the second (1836-1838) and third (1876-1878) historical Austrian military surveys. A dynamic development of sugar industry took place during this time in Hana region. From the comparative analysis it is clear that the introduction of sugar beet cultivation in Hana region in the context of sugar industry development had a big influence on land use. The needs of new land for growing sugar beet lead to a sharp decline in permanent grasslands and ponds. These land categories were converted to arable land. These changes in use of agricultural land in the 19th century are comparable with significant land use changes, which were connected with socialist collectivization of agriculture in the mid-20th century.