History of geographical thought, Monbeig Pierre, the French mission at USP and fronts

Abstract

Pierre Monbeig participated in the French mission that funds the Geography courses at the University of Sao Paulo. His name has always been strongly associated to the Urban Monographic method, and with the so called Traditional Geography. However, this article intends to discuss that in his research in our country (in Brazil), Monbeig is confronted with a reality that is in constant change, which challenges his scientific method of understanding the World. There is a perplex sentiment towards the reality of a developing nation that generates a methodic adjustment. This effort is still provisory, experimental. In order to demonstrate this moment of discomfort and rupture in history of the geographic line of thinking, we dive in a thesis of doctorate work of Monbeig, entitled Pioneers and farmers of the state of Sao Paulo, which is the result of his empirical studies during the years he spent lecturing in Brazil.