An Environmental History of the World: Humankind's Changing Role in the Community of Life (Routledge Studies in Physical Geography and Environment)

This original work follows a chronological path through the history of mankind, in relationship to ecosystems around the world. Each chapter concentrates on a general period in human history; each also has three case studies which illustrate the significant patterns occurring at that time. "An Environmental History of the World is a concise history, from ancient to modern times, of the interactions between human societies and 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 eight main chapters follow a chronological path through the history of mankind, in relationship to ecosystems around the world. Each chapter concentrates on a general period in human history which has been characterized by large scale changes in the relationship of human societies to the biosphere and gives three case studies that illustrate the significant patterns occurring at that time. The chapters covering the twentieth century discuss the physical impact 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 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"--Provided by publisher

An Environmental History of the World is a concise history, from Ancient to Modern times, of the interaction between human societies and the other forms of life that inhabit our planet. This original work follows a chronological path through the history of mankind, in relationship to ecosystems around the world. Each chapter concentrates on a general period in human history which has been characterised by large scale changes in the relationship of human societies to the biosphere, and gives three case-studies that illustrate the significant patterns occurring at that time. Little environmental or historical knowledge is assumed from the reader in this introduction to environmental history.

Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of figures......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Permissions......Page 14 Introduction: history and ecology......Page 18 Primal harmony......Page 29 The great divorce of culture and nature......Page 47 Ideas and impacts......Page 69 The Middle Ages......Page 100 The transformation of the biosphere......Page 126 Exploitation and conservation......Page 158 Modern environmental problems......Page 191 Present and future......Page 223 A general conclusion......Page 255 Bibliographical essay: writing on global environmental history......Page 259 Index......Page 266 Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 List of figures 10 Acknowledgments 12 Permissions 14 Introduction: history and ecology 18 Primal harmony 29 The great divorce of culture and nature 47 Ideas and impacts 69 The Middle Ages 100 The transformation of the biosphere 126 Exploitation and conservation 158 Modern environmental problems 191 Present and future 223 A general conclusion 255 Bibliographical essay: writing on global environmental history 259 Index 266 Social Sciences This original work follows a chronological path through the history of mankind in relationship to ecosystems around the world. Each chapter concentrates on a general period in human history and contains three case studies that illustrate the significant patterns occurring at that time. This book is a concise history of man's interaction with the environment from Ancient to Modern times. It is an introduction to environmental history which assumes little environmental or historical knowledge