Environmental History, Science and Technology, and Ecology

What is Environmental History? According to J. Donald Hughes, the definition of environmental history is “The study of human relationships through time with the natural communities of which they are a part in order to explain the processes of change that affect that relationship.” Donald Worster John Mcniell

Major Factors Interactions between cultures + Human temperament = surroundings Provocative studies according to Paul Warde Natural conditions vs. symbolic construct Prominent scholars: William Cronon, J. Donald Hughes, Donald Worster, and more…

Ecological Analysis - "As a method, environmental history is the use of ecological analysis as a means of understanding human history ... an account of changes in human societies as they relate to changes in the natural environment.” - J. Donald Hughes

Scholarly Perceptions - In 2003 McNeill suggested that environmental history was "... the history of the mutual relations between humankind and the rest of nature“ Anthrpocentrism- interpreting or regarding the world in terms of human values and experiences

Themes of Environmental History - Theme 1- Neolithic Revolution - Theme 2- Technological Revolution - Theme 3- Imperialism or Colonial Expansion - Theme 4- Urbanization

Bridging the Gap Gap between arts and natural sciences “Lack of human agency” Inevitable themes of environmental history