The course is a general introduction to environmental history but also covers themes such as landscape, risk, and infrastructure as well as technologies and policies that have provided the framework conditions for human ecological footprints and the built environment. The perspective is global but with numerous examples from Sweden. The chronological focus will be on the modern period, in particular the 20th century.
AK1204 Environmental History 7.5 credits
Questions about admittance and similar, please contact: kursexp@abe.kth.se
Questions about content, please contact: gioielli@kth.se
This course is an introduction to environmental history, an approach that asks a straightforward question: What is the role of nature in human history?
The answers to this question can be straightforward, like hurricanes and agriculture, but also complex, and often vexing, like climate change. Over the course of twelve weeks we will explore nature as an historical actor, but also how human ideas about nature have shaped history. Because natural processes often play out over great distances and long periods of time, this class will be global in scope, and cover the period from about 1800 to the present. We will cover the primary intersections between environmental and global history during this period, including colonial expansion and biological exchange, industrialization and urbanization, and the environmental impact of modern technology. We will be using the broad scope and expansive time period to think about environmental history thematically, covering a new topic each class, while moving roughly chronologically from the 18th to the 21st century.
The primary learning goals are for you to become thoroughly engaged with the concepts, core themes and questions raised by the field of environmental history; understand how they relate to some of the major world historical themes of the modern period; and begin thinking about how you could use those concepts when studying other historical periods and attempting to address contemporary environmental dilemmas, both in other classes and in your professional and personal life. Students will also develop core historical, critical thinking and communitication skills during this term.
Information per course offering
Choose semester and course offering to see current information and more about the course, such as course syllabus, study period, and application information.
Course syllabus as PDF
Please note: all information from the Course syllabus is available on this page in an accessible format.
Course syllabus AK1204 (Spring 2022–)Headings with content from the Course syllabus AK1204 (Spring 2022–) are denoted with an asterisk ( )
Content and learning outcomes
Course contents
Intended learning outcomes
After the course the student shall:
- have knowledge about the environment as a limiting factor in human societies from the oldest times to the present modern society,
- be able to describe and explain how and why the environment has become a political, economical and technological issue in modern society,
- be able to analyse the growing interest in risks, catastrophies and understand those phenomena in a historical context.
Literature and preparations
Specific prerequisites
Completed upper secondary education including documented English corresponding to English A/ English 6.
Recommended prerequisites
No recommended prerequisites.
Literature
You can find information about course literature either in the course memo for the course offering or in the course room in Canvas.
Examination and completion
If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.
Grading scale
A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
Examination
- INL1 - Essay, 7.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.
The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.
Active participation in seminars and lectures; at one seminar in advance prepare a comment or a review; write an essay (about 2000 words) about one of the central themes of the course that clearly draws on the course literature, lectures, and seminars.
Mandatory attendance to pass the course. Absence on more than 25% of lectures or on more than one seminar is made up for by additional writing assignment.
Other requirements for final grade
Assessment criteria for the course are:
- Quality of essay (50%)
- Quality of oral and written seminar presentation (20%)
- Quality of overall activity in lectures and seminars. (30%)
Results on all three dimensions make up one single grade for the entire course.
Mandatory attendance to pass the course. Absence on more than 25% of lectures or on more than one seminar is made up for by additional writing assignment.
The assessment criteria of essay are:
- Coverage of reading assignments to demonstrate full grasp of all literature, which should be listed as end references
- Ability to present the topic and argue for its relevance and overall interest
- Ability to follow a line of argument and to organize materials to support the argument
- Analytical capability
- Clarity of style and ability to distinguish the voices and views in sources from author’s argument and presentation
Examiner
Ethical approach
- All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
- In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
- In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.
Further information
Course room in Canvas
Registered students find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas. A link to the course room can be found under the tab Studies in the Personal menu at the start of the course.
Offered by
Main field of study
Technology
Education cycle
First cycle
Supplementary information
The course may be cancelled if less than 10 students accept the offer of a place.
Previous course code: 4D1212