DHIS 27A16 - Introduction to Global Environmental History

During this class, we will examine how our contemporary understanding of the environment was shaped by decisions, ideas and practices that emerged at the time of the first industrial revolution. We will examine primary and secondary sources to understand what motivated diverse groups of historical actors to respond to environmental issues in the way they did, while also gaining awareness of the main debates that currently exist within the field of environmental history. We will cover a wide range of themes, such as: managing industrial pollution; public health and industrialization; environment and empire; environmental justice; the history of waste management; the emergence of ‘risk societies'; as well as current debates over the validity of the concept of the Anthropocene in discussing climate change.
Amélie BONNEY
Séminaire
English
In order to take this class, you need a level of English which allows you to read academic literature and primary sources in English. You need to be able to discuss these in English with the rest of the class, and need to be confident when writing essays in English. You should also be familiar with methods of historical analysis.
Spring 2024-2025
1. Oral Presentation (30%): students will give a 20-minute presentation connected to a theme and readings for each session. 2. Oral Participation (10%): Students are expected to participate actively in class discussion. 3. Research-based paper (60%): Students will work in groups of 3-4 to produce a final research paper for this class. Together, they will create: a detailed outline for week 4 (20% of the grade), a final written essay for week 10 (50%), and an oral presentation in weeks 11 or 12 (30%).
The sources for this class will be accessible on Moodle, where you will find the required primary and secondary source readings for each week of the class. Students are expected to have read and engaged with all of the required readings set for each week
François Jarrige, Thomas Le Roux, The Contamination of the Earth : A History of Pollutions in the Industrial Age, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA (2020).
Christopher Sellers and Joseph Melling (eds.), Dangerous Trade. Histories of Industrial Hazard Across a Globalizing World, Temple University Press, Philadelphia (2012)
Etienne S. Benson, Surroundings. A History of Environments and Environmentalisms, Chicago, Chicago University Press (2020).
J.R.McNeill and Peter Engelke, The Great Acceleration. An Environmental History of the Anthropocene since 1945, Belknap Press, Cambridge, MA (2014).