Powering the Past: The History of Energy

This seminar will explore the role of energy in shaping our past, and uses energy consumption and production as an entry into central questions in environmental history. Beginning with the regimes of wood, water, and muscle in early human history, the course moves on to explore fossil fuels, nuclear power, and alternative energy sources around the world. While attentive to issues of environmental impact, we will also examine the broader implications of energy use for social, economic, and political developments and challenges. Readings are drawn from anthropology, geography, ecology as well as history. This course presumes no previous history courses.