Books
Climate Change in Prehistory by
How did humankind deal with the extreme challenges of the last Ice Age? How have the relatively benign post-Ice Age conditions affected the evolution and spread of humanity across the globe? By setting our genetic history in the context of climate change during prehistory, the origin of many features of our modern world are identified and presented in this illuminating book. It reviews the aspects of our physiology and intellectual development that have been influenced by climatic factors, and how features of our lives - diet, language and the domestication of animals - are also the product of the climate in which we evolved. In short: climate change in prehistory has in many ways made us what we are today. Climate Change in Prehistory weaves together studies of the climate with anthropological, archaeological and historical studies, and will fascinate all those interested in the effects of climate on human development and history.
ISBN: 9780511535826Publication Date: 2009-08-06
Conservation's Roots by
The ideas and practices that comprise "conservation" are often assumed to have arisen within the last two centuries. However, while conservation today has been undeniably entwined with processes of modernity, its historical roots run much deeper. Considering a variety of preindustrial European settings, this book assembles case studies from the medieval and early modern eras to demonstrate that practices like those advocated by modern conservationists were far more widespread and intentional than is widely acknowledged. As the first book-length treatment of the subject, Conservation's Roots provides broad social, historical, and environmental context for the emergence of the nineteenth-century conservation movement.
ISBN: 9781789206920Publication Date: 2020-06-11
Sustainability by
The word is nearly ubiquitous: at the grocery store we shop for "sustainable foods" that were produced from "sustainable agriculture"; groups ranging from small advocacy organizations to city and state governments to the United Nations tout "sustainable development" as a strategy for local andglobal stability; and woe betide the city-dweller who doesn't aim for a "sustainable lifestyle." Seeming to have come out of nowhere to dominate the discussion - from permaculture to renewable energy to the local food movement - the ideas that underlie and define sustainability can be traced backseveral centuries.In this illuminating and fascinating primer, Jeremy L. Caradonna does just that, approaching sustainability from a historical perspective and revealing the conditions that gave it shape. Locating the underpinnings of the movement as far back as the 1660s, Caradonna considers the origins ofsustainability across many fields throughout Europe and North America. Taking us from the emergence of thoughts guiding sustainable yield forestry in the late 17th and 18th centuries, through the challenges of the Industrial Revolution, the birth of the environmental movement, and the emergence of aconcrete effort to promote a balanced approach to development in the latter half of the 20th century, he shows that while sustainability draws upon ideas of social justice, ecological economics, and environmental conservation, it is more than the sum of its parts and blends these ideas together intoa dynamic philosophy.Caradonna's unique and concise history broadens our understanding of what "sustainability" means, revealing how it progressed from a relatively marginal concept to an ideal that shapes everything from individual lifestyles, government and corporate strategies, and even national and internationalpolicy. For anyone seeking understand the history of those striving to make the world a better place to live, here's a place to start.
ISBN: 9780199372409Publication Date: 2014-09-01
History of Sustainability
The concept of sustainability has been present in Europe for centuries, although not always explicitly defined as such. In medieval times, practices such as crop rotation and the use of natural fertilizers were common, contributing to the longevity of agricultural systems. The Industrial Revolution shifted towards more intensive and extractive forms of production, which led to environmental degradation and social inequality. It was not until the 20th century that sustainability began to emerge as a distinct concept, with the publication of Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" and the establishment of the Club of Rome's Limits to Growth report. Today, Europe is at the forefront of sustainability efforts, with policies and initiatives focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting renewable energy, and protecting biodiversity.
Fun Facts:
- In the Middle Ages, hunting reserves and protected forests were established by European rulers in Venice
- England was overwhelmingly deforested by the thirteenth century
- France was once a country surrounded by lush woodland, but by the 18th century woodland accounted for only 16% of the land
- Tree cutting in the forests of England, France, Germany leaves large tracts totally denuded by around 1550 in England and the 1600s in Europe, forcing a switch to coal.
Resources
Environmental History Resources - Environmental History Resources, is a comprehensive online hub dedicated to exploring the intersections of environmental issues and human history. It features a wide range of articles, resources, and links related to environmental history, from ancient civilizations to modern times.
Research Phrases
- Europe, Historical Environmental Conditions
- History of Sustainability in Europe
- Ancient Sustainability efforts, Europe
- Environmental History, Europe