The Environment and International History

The Environment and International History PDF Author: Scott Kaufman
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472527038
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 225

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Book Description
Studies of the history of international relations traditionally have focused on the decisions made by those at the highest levels of government. In more recent years, scholars have expanded their attention to cover economic, cultural, or social interactions among nations. What has remained largely ignored, however, is the impact of an increasingly-interdependent world upon the environment and, conversely, how environmental concerns have affected the ecology, social relationships, economics, and politics at national, regional, and global levels. The Environment and International History fills this gap, looking at the interrelationship between international politics and the environment. Using a transnational and interdisciplinary approach, this book examines how imperialism, war, and a divergence of interests between the developed and underdeveloped world all have had implications for plants, animals, and humans worldwide.

The Environment and International History

The Environment and International History PDF Author: Scott Kaufman
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472527038
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 225

Get Book Here

Book Description
Studies of the history of international relations traditionally have focused on the decisions made by those at the highest levels of government. In more recent years, scholars have expanded their attention to cover economic, cultural, or social interactions among nations. What has remained largely ignored, however, is the impact of an increasingly-interdependent world upon the environment and, conversely, how environmental concerns have affected the ecology, social relationships, economics, and politics at national, regional, and global levels. The Environment and International History fills this gap, looking at the interrelationship between international politics and the environment. Using a transnational and interdisciplinary approach, this book examines how imperialism, war, and a divergence of interests between the developed and underdeveloped world all have had implications for plants, animals, and humans worldwide.

An Environmental History of the World

An Environmental History of the World PDF Author: J. Donald Hughes
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134017812
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 702

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Book Description
This second edition of An Environmental History of the World continues to present a concise history, from ancient to modern times, of the interactions between human societies and the natural environment, including the other forms of life that inhabit our planet. Throughout their evolutionary history, humans have affected the natural environment, sometimes with a promise of sustainable balance, but also in a destructive manner. This book investigates the ways in which environmental changes, often the result of human actions, have caused historical trends in human societies. This process has happened in every historical period and in every part of the inhabited earth. The book is organized into ten chapters. The main chapters follow a chronological path through the history of mankind, in relationship to ecosystems around the world. The first explains what environmental history is, and argues for its importance in understanding the present state of the world's ecological problems. Chapters two through eight form the core of the historical analysis, each concentrating on a major period of human history (pre-civilized, early civilizations, classical, medieval, early modern, early and later twentieth century, and contemporary) that has been characterized by large-scale changes in the relationship between human societies and the biosphere, and each gives several case studies that illustrate significant patterns occurring at that time. The chapters covering contemporary times discuss the physical impacts of the huge growth in population and technology, and the human responses to these problems. Our moral obligations to nature and how we can achieve a sustainable balance between technology and the environment are also considered. This revised second edition takes account of new research and the course of history containing new sections on global warming, the response of New Orleans to the hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the experience of the Dutch people in protecting their low-lying lands against the encroachments of rivers, lakes, and the North Sea. New material is also offered on the Pacific Islands, including the famous case of Easter Island. This is an original work that reaches further than other environmental histories. Rather than looking at humans and the environment as separate entities, this book places humans within the community of life. The relationship between environmental thought and actions, and their evolution, is discussed throughout. Little environmental or historical knowledge is assumed from the reader in this introduction to environmental history. We cannot reach a useful understanding of modern environmental problems without the aid of perspective provided by environmental history, with its illustrations of the ways in which past decisions helped or hindered the interaction between nature and culture. This book will be influential and timely to all interested in or researching the world in which we live.

A Companion to Global Environmental History

A Companion to Global Environmental History PDF Author: J. R. McNeill
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 111897753X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 578

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Book Description
The Companion to Global Environmental History offers multiple points of entry into the history and historiography of this dynamic and fast-growing field, to provide an essential road map to past developments, current controversies, and future developments for specialists and newcomers alike. Combines temporal, geographic, thematic and contextual approaches from prehistory to the present day Explores environmental thought and action around the world, to give readers a cultural, intellectual and political context for engagement with the environment in modern times Brings together environmental historians from around the world, including scholars from South Africa, Brazil, Germany, and China

A Living Past

A Living Past PDF Author: John Soluri
Publisher: Berghahn Books
ISBN: 1785333917
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 310

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Book Description
Though still a relatively young field, the study of Latin American environmental history is blossoming, as the contributions to this definitive volume demonstrate. Bringing together thirteen leading experts on the region, A Living Past synthesizes a wide range of scholarship to offer new perspectives on environmental change in Latin America and the Spanish Caribbean since the nineteenth century. Each chapter provides insightful, up-to-date syntheses of current scholarship on critical countries and ecosystems (including Brazil, Mexico, the Caribbean, the tropical Andes, and tropical forests) and such cross-cutting themes as agriculture, conservation, mining, ranching, science, and urbanization. Together, these studies provide valuable historical contexts for making sense of contemporary environmental challenges facing the region.

Rethinking Environmental History

Rethinking Environmental History PDF Author: Alf Hornborg
Publisher: Rowman Altamira
ISBN: 9780759110281
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 426

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Book Description
This exciting new reader in environmental history provides a framework for understanding the relations between ecosystems and world systems over time. Alf Hornborg has brought together a group of the foremost writers from the social, historical and geographical sciences to provide an overview of the ecological dimension of global, economic processes, with a long-term, historical perspective. Readers are challenged to integrate studies of the Earth system with studies of the World system, and to reconceptualize human-environmental relations and the challenges of global sustainability. Immanuel Wallerstein, renowned Yale sociologist and originator of the world-system concept, closes the volume with his reflections on the intellectual, moral, and political implications of global environmental change.

The Environment in World History

The Environment in World History PDF Author: Stephen Mosley
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 113516472X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 147

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Book Description
Covering the last five hundred years of global history, The Environment in World History examines the processes that have transformed the Earth and put growing pressure on natural resources. Chapters and case studies explore a wide range of issues, including: the hunting of wildlife and the loss of biodiversity in nearly every part of the globe the clearing of the world’s forests and the development of strategies to halt their decline the degradation of soils, one of the most profound and unnoticed ways that humans have altered the planet the impact of urban-industrial growth and the deepening ‘ecological footprints’ of the world’s cities the pollution of air, land and water as the ‘inevitable’ trade-off for continued economic growth worldwide. The Environment in World History offers a fresh environmental perspective on familiar world history narratives of imperialism and colonialism, trade and commerce, and technological progress and the advance of civilisation, and will be invaluable reading for all students of world history and environmental studies.

A Guide to Global Environmental History

A Guide to Global Environmental History PDF Author: SAI BHASKAR REDDY NAKKA
Publisher: SAI BHASKAR REDDY NAKKA
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 139

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Book Description
"Introduction to Environmental History" provides a comprehensive overview of the interplay between human societies and the natural world throughout history. This thought-provoking book explores various aspects of environmental history, ranging from the historical roots of environmentalism to global perspectives on environmental challenges. It delves into the significance of understanding environmental history and offers insights into the current environmental issues that threaten our planet. Furthermore, it presents solutions and recommendations for sustainable practices, conservation efforts, and the future of environmental history. The book begins with an introduction to the field of environmental history, highlighting its importance in understanding the dynamic relationship between human beings and their environment. It examines the historical roots of environmentalism, tracing the practices and attitudes towards the environment in pre-industrial societies and the profound impact of the Industrial Revolution. A global perspective is then explored, with dedicated chapters focusing on different regions of the world, including Asia, Europe, North America, Africa, Australia and Oceania, South America, and even Antarctica. This broad view highlights the diverse environmental challenges faced by various cultures and societies throughout history. The book further delves into environmental challenges within the four spheres of the Earth: lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. It examines issues such as deforestation, land degradation, water scarcity, water pollution, climate change, air pollution, biodiversity loss, and endangered species. In the subsequent chapters, the book delves into the current environmental challenges that humanity confronts today. It explores the impacts of climate change, pollution on human health, biodiversity loss, population growth, food insecurity, poverty, environmental degradation's health risks, oceans acidification, depletion of natural resources, water scarcity, and the consequences of environmental disasters. To address these challenges, the book presents potential solutions, emphasizing sustainable practices, renewable energy sources, and conservation efforts. It highlights the benefits of adopting these measures and calls for collective action to safeguard the planet for future generations. The future of environmental history is also contemplated, reflecting on the past, examining the present, and providing recommendations for future action. It explores the role of environmentalists and various events that promote environmental awareness and action. Lastly, the book includes a section on environmental disasters, shedding light on the detrimental impacts of activities such as mining, deforestation, natural disasters, water pollution, plastic pollution, oil spills, forest fires, industrial pollution, smog, nuclear accidents, and transportation-related environmental challenges. "Introduction to Environmental History" serves as a valuable resource for students, scholars, and anyone interested in understanding the historical context of our environmental challenges and finding sustainable solutions to create a better future. It offers a comprehensive exploration of environmental history, the current state of our planet, and the urgent need for action to protect and preserve our environment.

Affluence and Freedom

Affluence and Freedom PDF Author: Pierre Charbonnier
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1509543732
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 328

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Book Description
In this pathbreaking book, Pierre Charbonnier opens up a new intellectual terrain: an environmental history of political ideas. His aim is not to locate the seeds of ecological thought in the history of political ideas as others have done, but rather to show that all political ideas, whether or not they endorse ecological ideals, are informed by a certain conception of our relationship to the Earth and to our environment. The fundamental political categories of modernity were founded on the idea that we could improve on nature, that we could exert a decisive victory over its excesses and claim unlimited access to earthly resources. In this way, modern thinkers imagined a political society of free individuals, equal and prosperous, alongside the development of industry geared towards progress and liberated from the Earth’s shackles. Yet this pact between democracy and growth has now been called into question by climate change and the environmental crisis. It is therefore our duty today to rethink political emancipation, bearing in mind that this can no longer draw on the prospect of infinite growth promised by industrial capitalism. Ecology must draw on the power harnessed by nineteenth-century socialism to respond to the massive impact of industrialization, but it must also rethink the imperative to offer protection to society by taking account of the solidarity of social groups and their conditions in a world transformed by climate change. This timely and original work of social and political theory will be of interest to a wide readership in politics, sociology, environmental studies and the social sciences and humanities generally.

Down to Earth

Down to Earth PDF Author: Ted Steinberg
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199315019
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 1150

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Book Description
In this ambitious and provocative text, environmental historian Ted Steinberg offers a sweeping history of our nation--a history that, for the first time, places the environment at the very center of our story. Written with exceptional clarity, Down to Earth re-envisions the story of America "from the ground up." It reveals how focusing on plants, animals, climate, and other ecological factors can radically change the way that we think about the past. Examining such familiar topics as colonization, the industrial revolution, slavery, the Civil War, and the emergence of modern-day consumer culture, Steinberg recounts how the natural world influenced the course of human history. From the colonists' attempts to impose order on the land to modern efforts to sell the wilderness as a consumer good, the author reminds readers that many critical episodes in our history were, in fact, environmental events. He highlights the ways in which we have attempted to reshape and control nature, from Thomas Jefferson's surveying plan, which divided the national landscape into a grid, to the transformation of animals, crops, and even water into commodities. The text is ideal for courses in environmental history, environmental studies, urban studies, economic history, and American history. Passionately argued and thought-provoking, Down to Earth retells our nation's history with nature in the foreground--a perspective that will challenge our view of everything from Jamestown to Disney World.

The Environment and World History

The Environment and World History PDF Author: Edmund Burke
Publisher: Univ of California Press
ISBN: 0520256875
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 380

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Book Description
In 11 essays, the contributors examine the connections between environmental change and other major topics of early modern world history: population growth, commercialization, imperialism, industrialization, the fossil fuel revolution, and more.