Week 2: Notes on Slides 1 Flashcards
What is historiography?
Historiography is the study of the discipline of history, focusing on how historical knowledge and the methods of studying history evolve over time.
Why was Soviet history a popular field in North America during the 1950s-1980s, but is now less prominent?
Soviet history was significant due to the Cold War, which made understanding the Soviet Union essential. With the end of the Cold War, interest and academic focus shifted away from this topic.
Who are two key American nature writers who influenced environmental history?
Henry David Thoreau and George Perkins Marsh.
What intellectual movement in the 1920s-1950s argued for analyzing events through the “longue durée” perspective?
A) The Romantic Movement
B) The Enlightenment
C) The French Annales School
D) The Industrial Revolution
C
Rachel Carson’s book, published in 1962, is often considered the beginning of the modern environmental movement. What is the title of this book?
Silent Spring
True or False
Environmental history was initially developed by relying heavily on scientific disciplines like ecology and geography.
Answer: True
Explanation: Early environmental historians used ecology and geography to understand historical environmental issues, forming a scientific basis for this new field.
True or False
Historiography is static and unchanging in its methods and areas of focus.
Answer: False
Explanation: The nature of knowledge, including historiography, is constantly evolving as new perspectives, questions, and methodologies emerge.
Yes or No
Did environmental history emerge as a separate academic discipline in North America in the 1970s?
Yes
Explanation: The 1970s saw the growth of environmental history in North America, driven by increasing awareness of pollution and environmental degradation.
Yes or No
Is the environmental history perspective considered “bilateral” because it examines the interaction between humans and the environment?
Yes
Explanation: The bilateral approach recognizes that human actions affect the environment and, in turn, the environment influences human societies.
Explain why environmental history is sometimes described as “presentist” and “prescriptive.”
Environmental history often applies lessons from the past to address current environmental issues, aiming to offer insights that can help shape future decisions.
