0415136180.Routledge.The.Environmental.History.of.the.World.Humankinds.Changing.Role.in.the.Community.of.Life.Sep.2001.pdf

An Environmental History of

the World

An Environmental History of the World is a concise history, from ancient to modern

times, of the interactions between human societies and 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 eight main chapters follow a chronological path through the history of mankind,

in relationship to ecosystems around the world. Each chapter concentrates on a general

period in human history, which has been characterised by large scale changes in the

relationship between human societies and the biosphere, and gives three case studies that

illustrate the significant patterns occurring at that time. The chapters covering the twentieth

century discuss the physical impact 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 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.

J.Donald Hughes is John Evans Professor in the Department of History, University of

Denver, USA. He is a founding member of the American Society for Environmental

History and former editor of its quarterly journal, Environmental History (then entitled

Environmental Review ).

Routledge studies in physical geography and

environment

This series provides a platform for books which break new ground in the understanding

of the physical environment. Individual titles will focus on developments within the main

subdisciplines of physical geography and explore the physical characteristics of regions

and countries. Titles will also explore the human/environment interface.

1 Environmental Issues in the Mediterranean

J.B.Thornes and J.Wainwright

2 An Environmental History of the World

Humankind’s changing role in the community of life

J . Donald Hughes

3 History and Climate Change

A Eurocentric perspective

Neville Brown

4 Cities and Climate Change

Harriet Bulkeley and Michelle Betsill

5 Little Ice Ages, 2nd edition

Ancient and modern

Jean M.Grove

An Environmental History

of the World

Humankind’s changing role in the

community of life

J.Donald Hughes

London and New York

First published 2001

by Routledge

11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE

Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada

by Routledge

29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001

First published in paperback 2002

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group

This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2004.

utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now

known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in

any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing

from the publishers.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Hughes, J.Donald (Johnson Donald), 1932–

An environmental history of the world: humankind’s changing role in

the community of life/J.Donald Hughes.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p.).

1. Human ecology—History. 2. Nature—Effect of human beings

on—History. 3. Biotic communities—History. I. Title.

GF13 .H83 2001

304.2'8–dc21

2001018163

ISBN 0-203-43680-6 Master e-book ISBN

ISBN 0-203-74504-3 (Adobe eReader Format)

ISBN 0-415-13618-0 (Hbk)

ISBN 0-415-13619-9 (Pbk)

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