Environmental History 1 - Before 1800 - An Original History Class
This is a 5-week course introducing a new way to study United States History and World History - Environmental American History.
Dr. Rob Bauer
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(3)
What's included
15 live meetings
12 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. We will have one book for our class, and will read one or two chapters from it for each week. This will be our main source of discussion. The book is Ted Steinberg, Down to Earth: Nature’s Role in American History.Assessment
I do not plan to issue homework outside of reading the book, but will have some study questions to help students focus on the main points of each chapter that we read.Class Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
Intermediate Level
This class will teach about environmental history before 1800. No previous knowledge about history, science, or the environment is necessary to enjoy and learn from this course. Environmental history is an original way of studying history that includes studying plants, animals, weather, climate, disease, and the attitudes of people toward nature. All of these things affect history, and this class will help students understand how they do so. I decided to offer this class because there are hundreds of quality books about traditional history that focus on famous people, war, politics, and so forth. There are also many teachers qualified to teach the history of these things. But very few of these books pay any attention to the environment, except maybe after 1970 or so. This deprives students of a chance to learn history in a different way, a history that focuses on the experiences of normal people, nature, and the cause-and-effect relationship between people and their environment. I am particularly qualified to teach this class, given that my PhD is in Environmental History. The main topics included in this course will be: 1 - The Columbian Exchange 2 - The environment and the native people of the Americas 3 - The relationship between the environment and European colonization 4 - How nature influenced economic development before 1800 By week, we will learn: Week 1 (Jan 8 to 12) Introduce the class and begin learning about the Columbian Exchange Week 2 (Jan 15 to 19) Complete learning about the Columbian Exchange Week 3 (Jan 22 to 26) Learn about the environment and the native people of the Americas Week 4 (Jan 29 to Feb 2) Learn the relationship between the environment and European colonies in the Americas Week 5 (Feb 5 to 9) Learn about nature, natural resources, and their contribution to the world economy before 1800 My teaching style for this course will be a mix of lecture, slideshows, and discussions with students. Some lecture will be necessary because it is unlikely students have much prior knowledge of environmental history to draw upon, so there are some things I'll have to tell them as background knowledge. But we'll also have a daily class discussion based on what we've read in our book for the class, so students will certainly have the chance to speak, share ideas, ask questions, and so forth. Every lesson comes with a slideshow full of visuals, maps, and an outline of the material covered in the class. The class will meet 15 times total, 3 times per week for 5 weeks.
Learning Goals
Students will learn how the environment has influenced history. They'll understand what the Columbian Exchange is, and why it is the single most important event in the creation of the modern world that we all live in, biologically speaking.
We'll learn some of the ways that Native Americans managed their environment prior to and after the arrival of Europeans in the Americas. We'll also discuss how the environment played a role in the interactions between European colonists and Native Americans.
Finally, we'll explore some of the ways that the modern economic systems used throughout the world were influenced by events involving the environment during the 1700s.
All of this will be done at a level of detail appropriate to teenage learners.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
There is little in this class that should require parental guidance. We will discuss how various diseases have caused significant death and suffering in history, which might be unsettling to some learners. The class has virtually no political content.
Supply List
Learners only need the class book, which is Ted Steinberg, Down to Earth: Nature’s Role in American History.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined May, 2023
5.0
3reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
3 Degrees
Doctoral Degree in History from University of Arkansas
Master's Degree in Education from University of Washington
Master's Degree in History from University of Montana
My PhD from the University of Arkansas includes a specialty in Environmental History. I was taught there by Elliott West, among the most decorated professors of Environmental History in the United States.
I also taught a more complex and longer version of this course at the college level for several years during the 2010s.Reviews
Live Group Class
$45
weekly or $225 for 15 classes3x per week, 5 weeks
50 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
2-12 learners per class
