Week 2 (Slides 5-8) Part 2

Question 1

Explain the role of the Annaliste school in environmental history.

Answer 1

The Annaliste school, active from the 1920s to the 1950s, emphasized the importance of long-term social, economic, and geographic factors in historical analysis.

It contributed to environmental history by focusing on broader, interconnected contexts rather than isolated events, encouraging historians to examine how environments influence human societies over time.

This approach laid the groundwork for understanding human-environment interactions as dynamic and interdependent.

Question 2

Why was Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” (1962) significant in environmental history?

Answer 2

It highlighted the harmful effects of pesticides, particularly DDT, raising public awareness about environmental damage and leading to policy changes, which many view as the beginning of the modern environmental movement.

Question 3

Match each historical figure or concept with their contribution to environmental thought:

1. Henry David Thoreau
2. Geographic Determinism
3. Rachel Carson
4. Montesquieu’s “Empire of Climate”

A) Raised awareness of pesticide dangers, inspiring environmental regulation.

B) Writings emphasized a close relationship between humans and nature, inspiring conservation.

C) Proposed that climate shapes societal traits in a one-way influence.

D) Theory stating the environment solely determines human development.

Answer 3

1 - B
2 - D
3 - A
4 - C

Question 4

Discuss the concept of geographic determinism and explain why it fell out of favour in environmental history. Provide examples of historical works or thinkers that embodied this perspective and contrast them with more recent approaches to human-environment interactions.

Answer 4

Geographic determinism is the theory that the physical environment, particularly climate and geography, determines human behaviours, cultures, and societal outcomes in a one-way relationship.

This concept fell out of favour because it oversimplifies the complex interactions between humans and the environment, ignoring human agency and adaptation.

Works by Montesquieu, such as “Empire of Climate,” argued that climate shapes societal traits, exemplifying this deterministic view. In contrast, modern environmental historians view the relationship as reciprocal, where humans impact the environment and vice versa.

This approach acknowledges human adaptability and the role of technology, policy, and culture in shaping environments.

Question 5

Which of the following authors wrote “Silent Spring,” a book that significantly influenced the modern environmental movement by raising awareness of pesticide use?

A) Henry David Thoreau
B) George Perkins Marsh
C) Rachel Carson
D) Montesquieu

Answer 5

C

Question 6

The concept of geographic determinism suggests that human actions and decisions are the primary shapers of the environment.

Answer 6

False – Geographic determinism suggests that the environment predominantly determines human actions and cultural development, with limited consideration of human agency in altering the environment.

Question 7

Compare and contrast the contributions of American nature writers like Henry David Thoreau and the scientific contributions of Rachel Carson to environmental history. How did their different approaches influence public perception and policy related to environmental issues?

Answer 7

Henry David Thoreau, an American nature writer, promoted a spiritual and philosophical connection to nature, inspiring conservation and appreciation for the natural world. His writings encouraged a respectful relationship with nature, laying a foundation for environmental awareness.

In contrast, Rachel Carson, through her scientific work “Silent Spring,” presented empirical evidence of the harmful effects of pesticides, particularly DDT. Carson’s approach was more scientific and policy-oriented, directly leading to environmental legislation and the modern environmental movement.

While Thoreau influenced a cultural shift toward appreciating nature, Carson drove tangible policy changes to protect it.

Question 8

Why was Rachel Carson considered courageous for taking on the issue of DDT in her book “Silent Spring”?

A) DDT was only used in small, localized areas, making her claims seem exaggerated.

B) DDT was banned globally by the time Carson began her research, so her work had little impact.

C) DDT was widely used and supported by industries, governments, and the public, making opposition to it controversial.

D) DDT had no known environmental impact at the time, making her stance seem unnecessary.

Answer 8

C