The Danish Revolution, 1500-1800: An Ecohistorical Interpretation (Studies in Environment and History) [Hardcover]

Thorkild Kj'rgaard (Author), David Hohnen (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521442672 | ISBN-13: 978-0521442671 | Publication Date: November 25, 1994 | Edition: First Edition

This book tells the story of a fertile European country that, as a result of over-population and military armament, over-exploited its fields and forests in a nonsustainable fashion. By the eighteenth century, Denmark, along with other European countries, found itself in an ecological crisis: clear felling of forests, sand drift, floods, inadequate soil fertilization and cattle disease. This book explains how the crisis was overcome, and is the first attempt to understand early modern Europe from a consistently ecological viewpoint.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The author presents a great number of data to support his theses, and this reviewer is convinced that Kjaergaard is on the right track. It is to be hoped, that scholars outside Denmark will read the book and make it part of a fruitful debate on an ecohistorical interpretation of history. It deserves it." Sixteenth Century Journal

"...a persuasive case for an ecological interpretation--a conclusion supported by an impressive body of primary evidence, as well as chronological logic." John D. Post, Journal of Interdisciplinary History

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Danish

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 332 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; First Edition edition (November 25, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521442672
• ISBN-13: 978-0521442671
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,175,943 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A refreshing lunatic, April 19, 2000

By 

Henrik Ollgaard - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Danish Revolution, 1500-1800: An Ecohistorical Interpretation (Studies in Environment and History) (Hardcover)

I think that The danish revolution is intersting for a number of reasons. First of all it is provocative in the sense that it questions the tradition af danish history. TK does not agree with the old view that the reforms of late 18th century marked the beginning of a new progressive period of danish agricultural history. On the contrary he focuses on the brekdown of the rural community which, according to Mr. Tk. was the basis of the ecological recovery the 18th century. This I think is an interesting new angle.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thorkild's Taudry Tale, May 13, 2001

By 

Thom (Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Danish Revolution, 1500-1800: An Ecohistorical Interpretation (Studies in Environment and History) (Hardcover)

Unfortunately, an 'ecohistorical' interpretation of Denmark's past will always gain a hardy following of critics. Such criticism necessarily devotes its firepower to outlining how 'radical' and 'what a break from tradition' it is. It only breaks from a tradition that accepts man's relationship with the earth as being one of master and servant. By historicising that particular statement, one would discover that humanity's relationship with the earth (our Mother) has not always been so short-sighted.

I recommend this book ... When such important historical writing has such a princely price tag it's no wonder that the world is mired in such dilemmas. Of course, scholars deserve adequate remuneration, but not at the expense of the public good.

Kjaergaard's destruction of the 'common-sense' paradigms that dominate so much scholarship is certainly worth a read - even if it does reek of 'Khmer Rouge' politics. Until the problems that he discusses are removed from the earth, his history will remain relevant. Perhaps any such removal would necessitate the cessation of 'homo historicity'. I certainly hope not!

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mr. Kjaergaard is a raving lunatic... An opinion., October 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Danish Revolution, 1500-1800: An Ecohistorical Interpretation (Studies in Environment and History) (Hardcover)

First of all let me declare that I in no way question the methodology used by Mr. Kjaergaard. What I do question is his political and enviromental ideas which he uses this book to further. These really quite entertaining ideas are a "wonderfull" mix of the ideology of Khmer Rouge and a more or less academic version of the ideas of Greenpeace. The book is a great read, should one want a laugh combined with an interesting new historical viewpoint (ecological-history).A new form of history that really could be an interesting science. When the book was first published in Denmark it caused quite a debate in the intelectual circles and Mr. Kjaergaard, who has often brought forth highly controversial views regarding a broad spectre subjects, was by most people ridiculed and many commented that Mr. Kjaergaard might have lost the key to his ivory tower and therefore totally lost his connection to "the real world". I agree in that theory but nonetheless I found the book an interesting read and would reccomend it highly to those who find very subjective history interesting.