| Learning Outcomes |
At the end of this course, the students;
- Learn reading environmental texts critically and to make connections between key concepts, main themes, approaches, and methods of environmental history.
- Develop research skills and evaluate critically a range of primary, secondary and tertiary sources through individual presentation work.
- Understand how the world is environmentally intertwined.
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| Course Description | This course analyzes human interactions with nature from a historical perspective, focusing on environmental changes, the impacts of historical geography on modern organizations or social practices, the relation between industrialization and ecological awareness, and the development of green politics. The course draws on the key concepts, main themes, approaches, and methods in environmental studies to understand how the idea of nature is represented in literary and/or cultural texts. |
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| Course Contents |
| WEEK |
TOPICS |
|
1st Week |
Introduction to course and course format. |
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2nd Week |
What is Environmental History? How does it Matter in Our Life?, J. Donald Hughes, What is Environmental History, Chapter 1-2; "What is Environmental History?" |
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3rd Week |
Visions of Nature, Andrea Borghini, "The Idea of Nature" Philip Sutton, "Modern Ideas of Nature and Environment," in Nature, Environment and Society. Assignment 1: Locate a Turkish poem that centers around or explores the theme of nature, conveying thoughts and concepts related to the natural world, and the like. Prepare a response paper or share your reflections on the poem. |
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4th Week |
Human Impact on the Environment (case study: "Discovery" of Americas), Nathan Nunn and Nancy Qian, "The Columbian Exchange: A History of Disease, Food, and Ideas;" Alfred W. Crosby, "Virgin Soil Epidemics as a Factor in the Aboriginal Depopulation of America," in Germs, Seeds, and Animals. |
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5th Week |
Sublime Landscapes and Romantic Visions (American Context), Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nature; W. Cronon, ?The View from Walden," in Changes in the Land. |
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6th Week |
Natural Resources Management/Preservation and Parks (American Context), David Stradling, ed., Conservation in the Progressive Era (3-41). Class discussion: Conservation in Turkey |
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7th Week |
Landscape Ethics and Environmental (In)Justice, Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac, 137-141, 237-264. Richard Schroeder et al, "Third World Environmental Justice," in Society and Natural Resources. Assignment 2: Report and reflect on a specific case that would be examined in the context of environmental injustice in Turkey. |
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8th Week |
Midterm |
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9th Week |
Animal Studies/ Do Animals Make History? Mary Norton, "Going to the Birds: Animals as Things and Beings in Early Modernity," in Early Modern Things; John R. McNeill, "How the Lowly Mosquito Helped America Win Independence" (Zocalo Public Square). |
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10th Week |
Burial Grounds as Green Urban Spaces, Grete Svensen, "Between Romantic Historic Landscapes, Rational Management Models and Obliterations - Urban Cemeteries as Green Memory Sites;" Hatice Yılmaz, et. al, "The Role of Aşiyan Cemetery (İstanbul) as a Green Urban Space from an Ecological Perspective and its Importance in Urban Plant Diversity." |
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11th Week |
Gender Dynamics and Environmental Roles, Caroline Merchant, ?Earthcare: Women and the Environment?, Stefan L. Brandt and Ruben Cenamor, "Introduction," in Ecomasculinities: Negotiating Male Gender Identity in U.S. Fiction. |
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12th Week |
Industrial Revolution/Industry, Rob White, "The Industrial Revolution and Its Environmental Impact." Assignment 3 (archival research): Report/reflect on a specific case in the 1990s-2000s about the industry?s environmental impact in Turkey. |
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13th Week |
Environmentalism/Activism, Rachel Carson, Silent Spring (selections) Documentary Discussions: "Before the Flood" (2016) dir. Fisher Stevens. |
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14th Week |
Timothy Beaties, Green Cities of Europe. General Revision - Group Project Presentations |
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| Recommended or Required Reading | Ted Steinberg, Down to Earth: Nature's Role in American History rev. ed. (2009)
William Cronon, Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England
William Cronon, Under an Open Sky: Rethinking America's Western Past
William Cronon, Uncommon Ground: Rethinking the Human Place in Nature
William Cronon, Nature's Metropolis: Chicago and the Great West
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