What is Environmental History (What is History series) 1st Edition

by J. D. Hughes (Author)

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J. Donald Hughes
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"An essential reference source."

--Philip Conford, Rural History

"Anyone seeking help in navigating the shoals of environmental history will give fulsome thanks to Don Hughes for this book. It is far and away the best guide yet to the issues and historiography of this emerging field, spanning the globe and delving into the deep as well as recent past."

--J. R. McNeill, Georgetown University

"What is Environmental History? is a masterfully condensed overview of one of the most urgent and rapidly developing fields of history. Written by a scholar of classical antiquity, it gracefully covers ancient, medieval, and modern periods – with a global vision. A state-of-the-art report for any scholar, and a perfect introduction for the student."

--Sverker Sörlin, Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm

Book Description

What is environmental history? It is a kind of history that seeks understanding of human beings as they have lived, worked and thought in relationship to the rest of nature through the changes brought by time. In this seminal student textbook, J. Donald Hughes provides a masterful overview of the thinkers, topics and perspectives that have come to constitute the exciting discipline that is environmental history. He does so on a global scale, drawing together disparate trends from a rich variety of countries into a unified whole, illuminating trends and key themes in the process. Those already familiar with the discipline will find themselves invited to think about the subject in a new way. Students and scholars new to environmental history will find the book both an indispensable guide and a rich source of inspiration for future work.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Polity; 1st edition (December 22, 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 181 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0745631886
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0745631882
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.7 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.7 x 0.9 x 8.8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #6,602,686 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,402 in Geography (Books)
- #7,095 in Environmental Studies
- #15,525 in Human Geography (Books)

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Excellent concise coverage of the long reach of environmental aspects ...

Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2018

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Excellent concise coverage of the long reach of environmental aspects of history. I like this a lot and would recommend it to others with an interest in understanding the history of environmental history.

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EJM

Great book, prompt delivery

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 30, 2013

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This book summarises environmental history well, looking at some of the key research areas and offering insights into pieces of environmental history itself. It has photos throughout, quite rare in history books, and is easy to read - a highly recommended intro for anyone studying environmental history or interested in it, good for students (like myself) and for anyone else!! Quick delivery, and excellent condition as stated. Very pleased!

mgw

history courses - empire at the OU

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 10, 2013

Verified Purchase

This was a really helpful book. My EMA was really helped by the information I gleaned from this book. If certainly puts the envirinment in history into perspective. And I got a great mark for me.

C. Blair

What is Environmental History?

Reviewed in Canada on November 19, 2012

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Donald Hughes opens his opus by writing that, "Human species is part of nature, but compared to most species we have caused far-reaching alterations ... of land, sea, air, and the living plants and other animals ..." (1). He argues that environmental history needs to be more "inclusive." He quotes William Cronon as advocating that environmental historians need to "make ecological sense" when doing environmental history.

Hughes identifies a number of themes in environmental history such as: a) the environment itself, b) the impact of humans on the environmental, and c) human thought about the environment. He argues that
environmental historians are a "varied group"(3). Hughes cites Warren Dean's With Broadax and Firebrand: The Destruction of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, as "a model for writing environmental history." He also references William McNeil's "Plagues and People," Crosby's "The Columbian Exchange," and Jared Diamond's "Collapse." In the sphere of political decision-making, Hughes argues that environmentalists are often struggling with powerful opponents.

As a scholarly discipline, Hughes theorizes (as many other environmental historians) that environment history is multidisciplinary, and owes much to the social sciences and political science. He does contend that environment history is most related to the natural sciences. Hughes also acknowledges that political environmental policy is important and not to be neglected as an area of academic study. Hughes references environmental works such as: Samuel Hayes's "A History of Environmental Politics since 1945," Glacken's "Traces on the Rhodian Shore," Richard Grove's El Nino studies, and Paul Sears's "Ecology a Subversive Subject" (1964).

Tracing environmental and "older" history, Hughes traces ancient Greek and Roman references to the environment. He references Chinese philosopher Mencius as an advocate for land management and conservation. In the "newer" history he identifies the need to integrate political history, diplomatic history, and women's history, with environment history. Hughes writes, "Environmental history cannot afford to ignore the realities of political and military power and national, economic, and ethnic groups ... Every environmental struggle is at its foundations, a struggle among interests about power" (116). In the context of "newer" environmental history he references: Richard Grove's "Green Imperialism," Alfred Crosby's "Ecological Imperialism," George Perkins Marsh's Man and Nature," and John McNeil's "Something New Under the Sun: An Environmental History of the Twentieth Century."

In U.S. environmental history Hughes notes the strong progressive influence on modern conservation and the impact of personalities such as: Teddy Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot, and John Muir. He credits the progressives with the creation of U.S. National Parks, National Forests, and Wilderness areas. Hughes establishes the link between the early twentieth century conservation movement and the late century environmental movement and such events as the first Earth Day (April 22, 1970) and the founding of EPA in 1974. Hughes highlights the importance of U.S, urban environmental history. He recommends Melo Martin's "Effluent America," Joel Tarr's "The Search for the Ultimate Sink: Urban Pollution in Historical Perspective," and Mike Davis's "The Ecology of Fear." He also addresses the issue of environmental justice as researched by authors such as Carolyn Merchant in "Earthcare: Women and the Environment," and Susan Schrepfer in "Nature's Alters.

Hughes suggests that the non-U.S. environmental history literature is extensive. In India he cites "The Fissured Land," by Gadgil and Guha, which argues about a strong British colonial influence in forest management, and draws on abundant colonial records (London). Canada he says, has significant work in environmental history by authors such as Dorsey, Sandlos, and Tina Leo. Hughes also credits European environmental historians for contributing a vast body of work on the subject. For example, he points out that Scotland has a rich tradition of environmental history. Holland, he offers, has extensive experience in water management. Germany he writes, has a strong green movement and a extensive history of forest management. Hughes says that the French Annales tradition, such as Braudel's history of the Mediterranean, is very compatible with environmental history. For China, Hughes recommends "Mao's War Against Nature," by Judith Shapiro, and "Tiger, Rice, Silk and Silt," by Robert Marks. For Australia and Pacific basin Hughes suggests Geoffrey Bolton's "Spoils and Spoiler," and John McNeil's "Of Rats and Men." The environmental work he most recommends for Africa is James McCann's "Green Land, Brown Land, Black Land." He concludes his suggestions on global environmental literature by proposing for Latin America works by Alfred Crosby (The Columbian Exchange), and Melville's "A Plague of Sheep."

Hughes concludes by reviewing overall environmental themes such as environmental "determinism," which he defines as "the theory that history is inevitably guided by forces not of human origin or choice." He cites Jared Diamond's writings as an example. Next he addresses the issue of the supposed weakness of environmental historians when it comes to theory. Hughes writes that environmental historians and historians in general are often accused of being "light on theory." He responds by quoting James O'Connor, a Marxist economist and sociologist, who suggested that "environmental history is at the very center of historiography today" (101). On the issue of population and population he suggests that environmental historians are hesitant to address the population issue, and worried to be accused of "Malthusianism or racism." Hughes suggests that "population growth is the most potent engine driving environmental destruction." (103). In the sphere of international policy, Hughes argues that international trade agreements such as: GATT, EU Treaties, NAFTA, and international organizations such as: IMF, IBRD (World Bank), UN, and WTO; have had an immense influence on global environmental issues. Prominent international environmental issues include energy consumption (i.e., Wood, Coal, Oil), biodiversity preservation (i.e., species endangered), and the last threatened commons (oceans and seas).

Hughes finishes by suggesting works on "Doing Environmental History." He recommends Carolyn Merchant's "The Columbia Guide to American Environmental History," Donald Worster's "The Ends of the Earth," and William Cronon's "A Place for Stories." Hughes writes that environmental history requires an understanding of the natural sciences, environmental politics, and economics. As for the future of environmental history, he ends by writing, "no mortal can keep up with all the literature."

For environmental historians, this work should be required reading. It is not only academically informative, it also opens up the world of environmental history to the average person.

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