AMST 30340 - U.S. Environmental History

Institution:

University of Notre Dame

Subject:

American Studies

Description:

This course is an introduction to the new field of environmental history. While many people think "The Environment" suddenly became important with the first Earth Day in 1970 (or a few years earlier), environmental issues have in fact long been of central importance. In recent decades historians have begun actively to explore the past sensibilities of various groups toward the quality of their air, water, and land; the passionate discussions of philosophers, theologians, and social and natural scientists about resource use, the safety of the environment, and long-term prospects for humanity; and the customs, laws, and managerial systems that guided use of the environment. Historians have also increasingly paid attention to the ways environmental factors have affected the course history: the effects of the distribution of water, foodstuffs, wood, minerals, and of changes in climate or endemic disease. This course will range widely -- in methodology from the history of ideas to paleoclimatology, geographically from the ancient near east to modern America, topically from wood-cutting rights in medieval France to the rise of the organic farming movement and water-allocation laws in the 20th century American west. Lecture discussion format.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.nd.edu

Phone Number:

(574) 631-5000

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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