Week 2: Slides (1-4) Flashcards
Define “Environmental History.”
The study of the interactions between humans and the natural world over time, focusing on how human societies have impacted and been influenced by their environment.
A branch of history that examines the human relationship with the environment, often using a bilateral approach to analyze how humans influence and are influenced by their surroundings
What does “intellectual hierarchy” mean?
The ranking or perceived value of different fields or branches of knowledge within academia and society.
Why did Soviet history become less popular in North America after the 1980s?
Changes in political dynamics, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and shifts in academic focus contributed to the decline in its popularity.
What environmental issues in the 1970s helped grow interest in environmental history?
Rising awareness of pollution, ozone layer depletion, and other environmental crises.
The “Golden Age” of Physics occurred during which period?
A) 1950s-1990s
B) 1880s-1970s
C) 1800s-1850s
D) 1970s-2000s
B
What academic fields did environmental history initially rely on?
A) Ecology and Geography
B) Sociology and Anthropology
C) Physics and Chemistry
D) Political Science and Economics
A
True or False
Environmental history first appeared as a formal field in the 1960s.
True
Explain how the “Golden Age” of Physics has shifted in the intellectual hierarchy.
Advances in other fields and interdisciplinary studies have redefined academic priorities, pushing physics from its peak dominance to a more integrated role in modern science.
How did early environmental history attempt to understand contemporary problems?
It relied on ecology and geography to analyze how past interactions with the environment contributed to current environmental challenges.
Match each event to its description:
- Golden Age of Physics
- Growth of Environmental History
- Decline of Soviet History in North America
A) Significant from the 1880s to the 1970s before being overtaken by other fields.
B) Gained popularity in the 1970s due to pollution and environmental awareness.
C) Once popular but faded due to political changes post-1980s.
1 - A
2 - B
3 - C
True or False
The popularity of Soviet history in North America remained consistent from the 1950s to the present.
False – Soviet history declined in popularity after the 1980s, largely due to the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, which shifted academic and public interest toward other regions and topics.
Yes or No
Yes or No
Is the nature of knowledge static?
No – Knowledge continually evolves as new discoveries, technologies, and perspectives emerge, challenging and expanding our understanding of the world.
Did the awareness of pollution in the 1970s contribute to the growth of environmental history?
Yes
