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701-0791-00L 2 Credits DZ , DS , BSC , SHE D-USYS , D-BAUG , D-MAVT , D-INFK , D-MATH , D-PHYS , D-BIOL , D-ERDW , D-GESS , D-ITET , D-ARCH , D-CHAB , D-HEST

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Environmental History - Introduction and selected problems

Umweltgeschichte - Einführung und ausgewählte Probleme

Lecturers & Examiners: Dr. Jon Mathieu

VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:24:55

Abstract

Current discussions about nature’s household have increased the interest into ecological questions in history. How did human societies handle climate fluctuations and lack of resources in earlier centuries? What were their relations to forests, to water and to the countryside in general? In which manner did one percieve and investigate environmental phenomena?

Objective

Introduction into environmental history; survey of selected problems; improved ability of critical assessment of current problems from a historical perspective (placement into long-term developments).

Content

Topics of the lecture are: 1. Introduction; 2. The politization of the environment; 3. Population, technology, resources; 4. The face of the landscape; 5. Water: needs, usages; 6. Forest and wild animals; 7. Climate fluctuations and change; 8. Environmental disasters.

Resources

Lecture Notes

Power Point presentation in PDF-format as download (on 1.11 and 1.12).

Literature

John R. McNeill: Blue Planet. Die Geschichte der Umwelt im 20. Jahrhundert, Frankfurt: Campus 2000. Verena Winiwarter / Martin Knoll: Umweltgeschichte. Eine Einführung, Köln: UTB 2007.

General Information

Language: German
Levels: DZ , DS , BSC , SHE
Frequency: Yearly recurring

Examination

Type: ungraded semester performance

Course Components

Type	Title	Time & Place	Hours
lecture	Umweltgeschichte - Einführung und ausgewählte Probleme Beginn der Vorlesung: 3. Oktober 2008 Umwelthistorische Exkursion in der Zürcher Altstadt am 15. oder 22. November	Fri 13:15-15:00 (CHN G 42)	2 h weekly

Offered In

Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (In order to be awarded credits, please register under "Pflichtwahlfach GESS"!. The language courses are offered by the ETH and University of Zurich Language Center.)
- History and Philosophy of Knowledge
  - History
Compulsory Electives GESS
- Additional Courses in Humanities, Social and Political Sciences
  - Course Catalogue of D-UWIS
Environmental Sciences Bachelor
- 5. Semester
  - Social Sciences and Humanities Module
    - Module Humanities
Educational Science for MAS SHE and TC (These are the general course offerings of the programmes Master of Advanced Studies in Secondary and Higher Education (MAS SHE) - categories Educational Science and Compulsory Elective Courses - and Teaching Certificate (TC) - category Educational Science. Exception: the course offerings for the subjects Agricultural Science, Environmental Studies and Food Science are listed under the respective programmes.)
- Compulsory Elective Courses MAS SHE