This course offers an introduction to environmental history - the study of the historical relationship between humans and the natural world - with a focus on North America from before European contact up to contemporary times. Likely topics to be considered include: First Nations' relationships with nature and land use patterns prior to European contact; the massive environmental changes that came with the arrival of European colonizers; changing ideas about the proper relationships between humans and nature; and major developments in resource use and management, including the rise of the modern environmental movement in the late 20th century and contemporary environmental problems and challenges.
Spring.