HIST 270-01, Global Environmental History, Fall 2009

Abstract

What can our environment tell us about our past? How have natural resources shaped patterns of human life? What meanings have people attached to nature, and how have those attitudes shaped their cultural and political lives? This course is intended as an introduction to the field of environmental history. We will analyze the ecological context of human existence, with the understanding that the environment is an agent and a presence in human history. Because environmental change often transcends national boundaries, this course places important subjects in environmental history into a global context. Yet we should remember that global concerns stem from local challenges. We will incorporate several off-campus educational experiences to draw connections between our course work and environmental issues in Memphis. The knowledge gained from our outings will be essential to our understanding of environmental history. This course will help us recognize the important developments that contributed to present day environmental issues around the world and in our local community.