Free Printable Worksheets for learning Environmental History at the College level

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Environmental History

Environmental history is the study of the relationship between humans and the environment over time. It explores how human societies have adapted to the natural environment and how they have impacted it. By analyzing the past interactions between humans and the environment, environmental history seeks to provide insights into current environmental issues.

Key Concepts

  • Ecological footprint: A measure of the impact of human activities on the natural environment. It is calculated as the amount of land and water needed to produce the resources consumed and to absorb the waste produced by a society.

  • Environmental determinism: The idea that the natural environment determines the development of human societies.

  • Anthropocentrism: The belief that humans are the most important beings on Earth and therefore have the right to exploit the natural environment for their own benefit.

  • Environmental justice: The fair distribution of environmental benefits and harms among all members of society, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.

  • Conservation: The sustainable use and management of natural resources to maintain their long-term viability.

Important Information

  • Environmental history covers a wide range of topics, including climate change, deforestation, water management, urbanization, and agricultural practices.

  • Environmental problems have existed throughout human history, but they have become more pressing in recent times due to the growth of human population and the expansion of industrialization.

  • The industrial revolution, which began in the late 18th century, had a profound impact on the natural environment, leading to pollution, resource depletion, and deforestation.

  • The environmental movement emerged in the mid-20th century, in response to the increasing awareness of environmental problems and the need for conservation and protection of natural resources.

  • Environmental history has important practical implications, as it can inform policy and decision making to address current environmental issues and promote sustainable development.

Key Takeaways

  • Environmental history is the study of the relationship between humans and the environment over time.

  • The concept of ecological footprint is a measure of the impact of human activities on the natural environment.

  • Environmental justice seeks to ensure the fair distribution of environmental benefits and harms.

  • Conservation is the sustainable use and management of natural resources to maintain their long-term viability.

  • Environmental history is relevant for addressing current environmental issues and promoting sustainable development.

Here's some sample Environmental History vocabulary lists Sign in to generate your own vocabulary list worksheet.

Word Definition
Ecology The study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment
Anthropocene The current geological age, during which humans have become the dominant influence on the environment
Deforestation The clearing of forests for agricultural or developmental purposes
Biodiversity The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem
Ecological Footprint The impact of human activities measured in terms of the amount of biologically productive land and water required to produce the goods consumed and to assimilate the wastes generated
Restoration The process of bringing back or returning ecosystems, habitats or species to their original or desirable ecological states
Sustainability The ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Industrialization The adoption of new technologies resulting in the transformation of an agrarian-based economy to a manufacturing-based economy
Climate Change Changes in usual weather patterns including temperature, rainfall, snow, wind and severe weather events such as hurricanes, floods, and droughts
Emissions Discharges of pollutants into the air, water, or soil
Pollution The presence or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects
Conservation The action of conserving something, in particular, the protection of wildlife and natural resources
Natural Resources Materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain
Carbon Footprint The total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our actions
Renewable Energy Energy that is derived from natural processes and replenished at a rate faster than it is consumed, such as wind or solar power
Waste Management The activities and actions necessary to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal
Ecosystem A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment
Fossil Fuels Natural fuels such as coal, oil, and gas, formed over the course of millions of years from the remains of dead organisms
Sustainable Agriculture Agriculture that practices environmental stewardship to bring a balance between productivity and supporting the surrounding ecosystem
Wilderness An area of land that has not been significantly affected by human activity or development

Here's some sample Environmental History study guides Sign in to generate your own study guide worksheet.

Environmental History Study Guide

Introduction

Environmental history is the study of human interaction with the natural world throughout history. It examines how humans have shaped the natural world and how the natural world has influenced human societies.

Key Concepts

  • Anthropocene: a term used to describe the current geological age, in which human activity has been the dominant factor influencing the environment.
  • Conservation: the preservation and protection of natural resources.
  • Ecology: the scientific study of the relationships between organisms and their environment.
  • Industrial Revolution: a period of rapid industrialization in the late 18th and early 19th centuries that had significant impacts on the environment.
  • Sustainability: using resources in a way that does not deplete them for future generations.
  • Wilderness: areas of land that have not been significantly impacted by human activity.

Topics in Environmental History

Pre-Industrial Era

  • Indigenous knowledge and land management practices
  • Agricultural practices and their impact on the environment
  • Environmental factors in the decline of ancient civilizations

Industrial Revolution

  • The rise of factories and the impact on air and water quality
  • Urbanization and the impact on natural resources
  • The conservation movement

20th Century

  • The impact of consumerism on the environment
  • The rise of environmentalism and the development of the environmental movement
  • The role of technology in environmental history, including nuclear energy and climate change

Key Figures in Environmental History

  • John Muir: founder of the Sierra Club and advocate for wilderness preservation
  • Rachel Carson: author of “Silent Spring” and a key figure in the modern environmental movement
  • Aldo Leopold: author of “A Sand County Almanac” and advocate for conservation and ecological ethics
  • Gifford Pinchot: founder of the U.S. Forest Service and advocate for multiple use land management

Key Documents in Environmental History

  • “Walden” by Henry David Thoreau
  • “A Sand County Almanac” by Aldo Leopold
  • “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson
  • “The Tragedy of the Commons” by Garrett Hardin
  • Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992)

Conclusion

Environmental history is a complex and interdisciplinary field that offers insights into how human societies have interacted with the natural world throughout history. Understanding the impacts of human activity on the environment is essential for creating a more sustainable future.

Here's some sample Environmental History practice sheets Sign in to generate your own practice sheet worksheet.

Environmental History Practice Sheet

  1. Explain the concept of environmental determinism and why it has been criticized by some scholars.

  2. Name at least two primary sources of evidence that scientists use to understand past climate change.

  3. What were the primary environmental effects of the Industrial Revolution on Europe and North America?

  4. Provide an overview of the Dust Bowl in the United States, including its causes, consequences, and the government response.

  5. Discuss the main goals and accomplishments of the conservation movement in the United States.

  6. Describe at least three ways in which colonialism and imperialism affected the natural environment in colonized areas.

  7. Analyze the role of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring in the modern environmental movement.

  8. Who are some key figures in the history of environmentalism in the United States, and what were their contributions to the movement?

  9. Explain the significance of the global warming hypothesis and its effects on the modern world.

  10. How has a historical understanding of environmental issues influenced modern policy decisions around the world?

Environmental History Practice Sheet

  1. Describe the concept of environmental determinism and how it relates to the history of the environment.

  2. Explain the role of colonialism in environmental history and its impact on the environment.

  3. Analyze the relationship between technology and the environment and its implications for environmental history.

  4. Discuss the role of population growth in environmental history and its effects on the environment.

  5. Explain the concept of sustainability and its importance in environmental history.

  6. Describe the role of international organizations in environmental history and their impact on the environment.

  7. Analyze the role of environmental movements in environmental history and their impact on the environment.

  8. Discuss the role of economic development in environmental history and its implications for the environment.

  9. Explain the concept of environmental justice and its importance in environmental history.

  10. Analyze the role of science and technology in environmental history and their impact on the environment.

Environmental History Practice Sheet

  1. What is the study of environmental history?
  2. What are the main components of environmental history?
  3. How does environmental history differ from other forms of history?
  4. What are some of the key topics and themes in environmental history?
  5. What are some of the major figures in environmental history?
  6. What are some of the primary sources used in environmental history?
  7. How has environmental history impacted the study of history?
  8. What are some of the current challenges facing environmental history?
  9. How can environmental history be used to inform contemporary policy decisions?
  10. What are some of the ethical considerations when studying environmental history?

Here's some sample Environmental History quizzes Sign in to generate your own quiz worksheet.

Problem Answer
What is Environmental history? Environmental history is the study of how humans have impacted the environment and how the natural environment has impacted human history.
Name at least two ways in which Native Americans practiced sustainable land use. Native Americans practiced sustainable land use through the use of controlled burns, and the rotation of crops.
Who is considered the founder of the American conservation movement? John Muir is considered the founder of the American conservation movement.
What was the goal of the first Earth Day celebrated in 1970? The goal of the first Earth Day was to draw attention to environmental issues and raise public awareness about pollution and ecology.
What are some examples of how humans have changed the environment for agricultural purposes? Humans have changed the environment by clearing forests for farmland, and draining wetlands to create fields.
What was the impact of the advent of the Industrial Revolution on the environment? The Industrial Revolution led to massive pollution, deforestation, and loss of natural habitats.
What is the tragedy of the commons? The tragedy of the commons is when individuals use a shared resource for their own benefit, leading to the degradation of the resource for everyone.
Name one environmental movement in the 1960s that helped shape modern Environmental history. One environmental movement of the 1960s that shaped modern environmental history was the fight to save the Redwoods in California.
What is biocentrism? Biocentrism is the idea that every living thing has inherent worth and a right to exist, independent of human use or value.
What is one example of how the government has used policy to encourage conservation of natural resources? One example of a government policy to encourage conservation is the Endangered Species Act, which provides protections for threatened and endangered species and their habitats.
Question Answer
What is environmental history? Environmental history is the study of how humans have interacted with and impacted the environment over time. It examines how human activities have shaped and continue to shape the environment, and how the environment has affected and continues to affect human societies.
What are some of the major topics studied in environmental history? Some of the major topics studied in environmental history include the history of land use, the history of resource extraction, the history of pollution and environmental degradation, the history of conservation, and the history of environmental movements.
What are some of the methods used in environmental history? Some of the methods used in environmental history include archival research, oral histories, interviews, historical geography, and the use of scientific data.
What are some of the key figures in environmental history? Some of the key figures in environmental history include John Muir, Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, and David Brower.
What are some of the key concepts in environmental history? Some of the key concepts in environmental history include the idea of environmental stewardship, the concept of environmental justice, the idea of sustainability, and the concept of environmentalism.
What are some of the key events in environmental history? Some of the key events in environmental history include the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, the first Earth Day in 1970, the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989, and the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015.
What are some of the key texts in environmental history? Some of the key texts in environmental history include William Cronon's Changes in the Land, Roderick Nash's Wilderness and the American Mind, and J.R. McNeill and Verena Winiwarter's An Environmental History of the Anthropocene.
What are some of the key themes in environmental history? Some of the key themes in environmental history include the idea of the human-nature relationship, the concept of environmental change over time, the idea of environmental stewardship, and the concept of environmental justice.
What are some of the key debates in environmental history? Some of the key debates in environmental history include the debate over the causes and consequences of environmental degradation, the debate over the role of the state in environmental protection, the debate over the role of corporations in environmental protection, and the debate over the role of individuals in environmental protection.

Environmental History Quiz

Question Answer
What is the term for the study of how humans interact with their natural environment? Environmental History
What is the name of the period in the 16th century when European countries began to colonize and exploit the natural resources of the Americas? The Columbian Exchange
What are the two main types of environmental history? Nature-society and Political Ecology
What is the term for the study of human-caused environmental change over time? Environmental Change
What is the term for the study of the effects of human activity on the environment? Environmental Impact Assessment
What is the term for the study of how environmental changes have affected human history? Environmental History
What is the name of the environmental movement which emerged in the 1960s in the United States? The Environmental Movement
What is the name of the environmental movement which emerged in the 1970s in the United States? The Environmental Justice Movement
What is the term for the study of how humans have shaped the environment? Environmental Management
What is the term for the study of the relationship between humans and the environment? Environmental Studies
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