Jean Gottmann facts for kids
Jean Gottmann (born October 10, 1915, in Kharkiv, Ukraine – died February 28, 1994, in Oxford, England) was a French geographer. He is most famous for his important study of the large urban area known as the Northeast megalopolis in the United States. His work greatly helped the field of human geography, especially in understanding cities, politics, economics, history, and different regions. He studied many places, from France and the Mediterranean to the United States, Israel, and Japan.
Early Life
Jean Gottmann was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine. He was the only child of Jewish parents. After a difficult time in 1918, he was cared for by his aunt and uncle. They moved to Paris in 1921, traveling through Constantinople. In Paris, he changed his name from Iona to the French name "Jean."
His Career Journey
Gottmann began his career as a research assistant studying economic geography at the Sorbonne from 1937 to 1941. However, he had to leave his job when the Nazis invaded France. He found safety in the United States, where he received a special scholarship to study at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey.
During World War II, he helped the U.S. government by working as a consultant for different agencies. He also joined a group of French academics who were teaching in exile. Later, he became a professor at Johns Hopkins University from 1943 to 1948. In 1945, he went back to France to work for the French government. He also spent two years as a research director for the United Nations.
After the war, Gottmann traveled often between France and the United States. He wanted to help people in France understand American geography and help Americans understand European geography. His unique view helped him get funding to study the state of Virginia (1953–1955). He also received support to study the large urban area along the northeastern coast of the United States. This study became very important in understanding how large city-regions grow and connect.
In 1957, he married Bernice Adelson. In 1961, he was invited to join the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris. In 1968, he became a Professor of Geography and the head of the department at the University of Oxford in England, where he worked until 1983. In the 1980s, Gottmann wrote many essays about "transactional" cities. These are cities where the main economic activity is handling and sharing information. After he retired, he continued to live in Oxford until he passed away.
Beyond his famous work on the megalopolis and urban geography, Gottmann also developed important ideas about how geographical space is divided politically. He believed this happened because of how people move around and how different symbols and ideas (called iconographies) interact.
Awards and Recognition
Jean Gottmann received many honors for his work.
- In 1956, he was given an Honorary Fellowship from the American Geographical Society.
- In 1964, he received the Charles P. Daly Medal from the same society.
- In 1980, he was awarded the Victoria Medal by the Royal Geographical Society in the UK.
- He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the British Academy.
See also
- Megalopolis (city type)
- Geographers on Film
- In Spanish: Jean Gottmann para niños
