VVZ API is not affiliated with ETH Zurich. Data might be outdated or incorrect. Please view the official ETHZ Vorlesungsverzeichnis for binding information.

701-0791-00L 2 Credits DS , BSC , SHE D-USYS , D-BIOL , D-GESS , D-ERDW
You're viewing possible stale or outdated data. Please check the latest semester for more up-to-date information.

Environmental History - Introduction and Overview

Umweltgeschichte - Einführung und ausgewählte Probleme

Lecturers & Examiners: Dr. Monika Gisler
Number of participants limited to 80.
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:53:52

Abstract

Introduction into environmental history as a discipline that ask for the human-nature-relationships from a long-term and spatially defined perspective. By presenting a selection of different topics the lecture provides access to new questions and insights.

Objective

Introduction into environmental history; survey of long-term development of human-nature-interrelations; discussion of selected problems. Improved ability to assess current problems from a historical perspective and to critically interrogate one's own standpoint.

Content

Humans live in and with nature, depend on it, change it permanently: as bio- and geological agents they intervene, reshape, leave prints, improve, reproduce and demonize nature; in short, they’re “doing environment”. Namely in the 20th century, the "era of ecology" (Joachim Radkau) or the age of the “Great Acceleration” (John McNeill), human interventions in their environments have increased exponentially. But nature itself is also constantly changing, adapting, striking back. This leads to a constantly changing interrelation between human and nature. This interdependence is at the core of this lecture. The introduction into “environmental history” offers an overview of the human-environment-relationship in a long-term perspective. It outlines concepts such as the anthropocene, climate and energy as well as questions of environmental policy and the history of the environmental movements. It is meant to expand the competencies for the assessment of current problems and the critical questioning of one's own point of view.

Resources

Lecture Notes

Course material is provided in digital form.

Literature

McNeill, John R. 2000. Something new under the sun: An environmental history of the twentieth-century world, New York: Norton. Uekötter, Frank (Ed.) 2010. The turning points of environmental history, Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press. Winiwarter, Verena und Martin Knoll 2007. Umweltgeschichte: Eine Einführung, Köln: Böhlau.

General Information

Language
German
Levels
DS , BSC , SHE
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
end-of-semester examination
Die Prüfung findet in der letzten Semesterwoche, am 31.5.2021, zwischen 10 und 12h, statt.

Registration & Places

Max Places
80

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture Umweltgeschichte - Einführung und ausgewählte Probleme
  • Mon 10:15-12:00 (ETZ E 6)
2 h weekly

Offered In