The International Society for Alpine History (AIHA)

Do the Alps - and mountain areas more generally - have a history, other than a geological one?  That is to say, do the societies that dwell in mountain regions, epxloiting their resources and dealing with their imperative nature, have a past, near or far, that characterises them as different from the populations of the plains, metropolitan centres and maritime coasts?  A past that merits attention of historians?

Up until the mid-20th century, the answer was always "no."  Or was not even a question asked.  Since then however, there has been a change.  The Association Internationale pour l'Histoire des Alpes was formed in 1995 and aims to be interdisciplinary and open to everyone - researchers and amateurs.