Syllabus for Global Environmental History

Learning outcomes

The student will get an overview of the global environmental history, learn to understand environmental historical processes, reflect historically and put the past in relation to our age.

Content

The course covers views of nature and relations with nature of historical societies and cultures, with focus on three levels: mental, interactive (human-nature interaction) and ecological level. The three levels correspond somewhat to the academic division of humanities, social science and natural science. Through a shift between a general perspective and specific strokes in history, and at various places and regions, a holistic understanding of the global environmental history is created. The evolution of humanity as a cultural being, the development of agriculture and the early cities are covered briefly in the course. Thereafter will be focus on the modern world from the expansion of the Europeans, the development of the industrial society and the globalisation. Ecosystems (including human societies) with its animals, plants and diseases are seen as historically important factors. A certain relevance is given to the environmental problems and discussion about environment and natural resources taking part in the 19th and 20th centuries. The course gives an interdisciplinary and historical depth to the global environmental crises and environment and development discussion of the latest decades.

Instruction

Lectures, excursions and seminars.

Assessment

Current examination with writing assignments and active participation in seminars.