The course presents a history of the American environment and the ways that different cultural groups have perceived, used, managed, and conserved it, from colonial times to the present. Students study how American Indians, European Americans, and African Americans have changed the environment as they colonize and industrialize the land over five centuries. Students examine changes in attitudes and behaviors toward nature and past and present conservation and environmental movements. Students study the interactions among the cultural groups and the interactions of ecology with ideas from economics, politics, technology, and ideology. From these interactions arise major problems and issues in interpreting American environmental history.
Students read primary documents and recent essays.
The comments are not representative of the entire range of students' opinions. I learned much about cultures I had previously thought I had a deep understanding of. This surprised me, and as a result I feel more in touch with my own roots and those of this continent. It broadened my perspective on the environment. I was always interested in the environment, and now I have a different approach and perspective.