An Ecological History of Humanity

This subject is not offered in 2011.

An Ecological History of Humanity or "How we got to where we are", journeys through 150,000 years of human experience: climate change, the great migrations, health and disease, famine and plenty, war and peace, scientific and technological advance - to conclude in our own times. This story concentrates on the deep history of human societies and their needs for food, shelter and reproduction, and of our quests for love, meaning and power. It explores key transitions: the emergence of farming and complex societies, the rise and fall of empires, calamities such as the Black Death and the micro and macro-biological conquests of the Americas and Australia, El Nino, holocausts and the long cycles of global cooling and warming, the fossil fuel revolution and the urbanization of the world. Taught by a geographer, a zoologist, a microbiologist and an historian, it is an interdisciplinary exploration of our complex relationships with the environment past and present, with other organisms, and with each other.

Students who successfully complete this subject will have:

• examined critically, synthesised and evaluated knowledge across a broad range of disciplines
• expanded their analytical and cognitive skills through learning experiences in diverse subjects
• the capacity to participate fully in collaborative learning and to confront unfamiliar problems

One 500 word tutorial paper due three days before the relevant tutorial (10%), a short weekly private blog (30%), a 2000 word research report due during the examination period (50%), tutorial participation (10%). This subject has a minimum hurdle requirement of 75% tutorial attendance. Regular participation in tutorials is required. Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Clive Ponting A New Green History of the World (Penguin Books or Viking)

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Students who successfully complete this subject will develop skills

• in precis, abstract extraction and analytic note-taking
• in structuring knowledge
• in interdisciplinary group work
• and a development of "literacies" in a range of disciplines across the physical and social sciences