An Environmental History of the World: Humankind's Changing Role in the Communit

Description: An Environmental History of the World by J. Donald Hughes This book is an overview of human history in relationship to the natural environment, from origins to the present, with case studies of different societies in each period FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher 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 worlds 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. Back Cover 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 worlds 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. Author Biography J. Donald Hughes is John Evans Distinguished Professor of History, University of Denver. Author of What is Environmental History? (Polity, 2006), The Mediterranean: An Environmental History (ABC-CLIO, 2005), and Pans Travail: Environmental Problems of the Ancient Greeks and Romans (Johns Hopkins, 1994), he is a founding member of the American and European Societies for Environmental History and past editor of Environmental History Table of Contents 1. Introduction: History and Ecology 2. Primal Harmony 3. The Great Divorce of Culture and Nature 4. Ideas and Impacts 5. The Middle Ages 6. The Transformation of the Biosphere 7. Exploitation and Conservation 8. Modern Environmental Problems 9. Present and Future 10. Conclusion Review "This would be an important addition to shelves of all scholars engaged with environmental research, whether in the humanities or sciences. It augments the recent surge of titles offering a global view of environmental history." - Frederick S. Milton, Newcastle University Review Quote "This would be an important addition to shelves of all scholars engaged with environmental research, whether in the humanities or sciences. It augments the recent surge of titles offering a global view of environmental history."- Frederick S. Milton, Newcastle University Details ISBN041548149X Author J. Donald Hughes Language English ISBN-10 041548149X ISBN-13 9780415481496 Media Book Format Hardcover Year 2009 Edition 2nd Imprint Routledge Place of Publication London Country of Publication United Kingdom Replaces 9780415136181 Short Title ENVIRONMENTAL HIST OF THE W-2E Birth 1932 Residence Denver, CO, US Subtitle Humankinds Changing Role in the Community of Life UK Release Date 2009-08-03 AU Release Date 2009-08-03 NZ Release Date 2009-08-03 Illustrations 46 Halftones, black and white; 46 Illustrations, black and white Pages 320 Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd Publication Date 2009-08-03 Alternative 9780415481502 DEWEY 304.2809 Audience Tertiary & Higher Education We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:139878895;

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