HIS 3335 - World Environment History 1300-Present

Credits: 4

In today’s world, the environment has become a major scientific, political, and social issue. From global warming and natural disasters to issues such as degradation and pollution, debates over the environment have become a part of our contemporary lives. Yet these issues go beyond national borders, and many have played a central role throughout human history, such as influencing human migration or the rise and fall of empires. This course explores how the environment has influenced historical events and actions on a global scale, focusing primarily on events since 1300. In addition to examining issues ranging from climate, disease, disasters, and degradation, we will explore how the environment has been conceptualized, particularly people’s relationship with nature, and how this led to the rise of movements such as conservation and preservation. We will end the course by investigating environmental events and movements during the twentieth century and how they have begun to influence public and state policies.
Fulfills: H in LS Core
Note: This course is usually not appropriate for freshmen.