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The rise and decline of states, empires, and civilizations in world history from ancient times to the modern period, seen from an environmental perspective.

History is often written as though nature does not exist. The emerging field of environmental history, however, posits that much of human history cannot be properly understood without considering nature too. From pollution, to epidemic diseases, to catastrophic floods, environment matters. This course will serve as an introduction to the field of environmental history. It will consider some of the key themes in US and European environmental history such as the history of water management, the growth of cities and pollution, energy use, disease, the Alps, war and the environment, and the history of natural disasters.
Now more than ever, it is crucial to understand the environmental dimensions of human history. The environment is a theme that many students are enthusiastic about. Teaching this course in Innsbruck would be effective, as I would devote a fair amount to understanding the both the history of the Alps, and the environmental history of the US South (where many Summer Schoolers hail from). There are numerous sites in close proximity to the city that would make for ideal field trips. I have experience leading field trips in the Innsbruck area related to my own research into the transformation of the Alpine landscape in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

The University of New Orleans International Summer School program has a mandatory class attendance policy. All students are required to attend class for all morning classes and any required afternoon and/or weekend fields trips and lectures. No unexcused absences are allowed. However, LFU students who have to miss a UNO class due to LFU examinations in the first two weeks of our program, can receive one excused absence for this. Any further unexcused absences will result in an academic penalty. Each faculty member determines the penalty for missed classes. Most professors deduct a letter grade for each additional missed class day. For details, please refer to your course syllabi, which will be distributed on the first day of class. The listed ECTS credits are a recommendation by the University of New Orleans Innsbruck Summer School, based on contact hours, anticipated out-of-classroom requirements such as field trips, and projected workload for readings, assignments, and exam preparation. Mail: Center-New-Orleans@uibk.ac.at