Reconstructing the Past: Historical Methodologies for Environmental Studies
Rashid Manzoor Bhat
Ph.D Research Scholar, Department of History, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India
The study examines the evolution and methodologies of environmental history, emphasizing its interdisciplinary nature and its engagement with both social and natural sciences. It explores historiographical approaches such as the Annales School and historical climatology, emphasising their role in shaping human-environment studies. It analyses environmental movements in global contexts, contrasting the trajectories of environmental history in the United States and India, particularly in relation to colonial policies and resource exploitation. It discusses the Anthropocene debate, focusing on industrialization, capitalism, and climate change as key forces in historical processes. Through the integration of paleoenvironmental studies, ecological reconstructions, and human-animal interactions, it examines the imperative of a comprehensive approach to analysing historical environmental changes.
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