London, England

It is no exaggeration to state that the industrialization project that originated in England led to some of the most significant transformations in socio-ecological conditions in human history.  In many ways, the Industrial Revolution marked the beginning of the age of globalization.  This was a tumultuous time, involving dramatic changes in social and economic relations, as well as relationships between societies and their surrounding environment.  The global environmental problems facing societies today – global climate change, ozone layer depletion, biodiversity loss, water scarcity – are all tied to the industrialization project in one form or another. 

This course will explore globalization though an environmental history approach by focusing on the origins and consequences of the English Industrial Revolution.   We use an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from environmental sociology, ecology, and history in order to understand some of the major changes that occurred with the Industrial Revolution.  Major themes include:

1.         Changes in social labor.

2.         Changes in the countryside landscape.

3.         Changes in culture.

4.         Changes in agriculture.

5.         Changes in ecology.

6.         Industrial Revolution in Contemporary Culture:

            J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings

Prof. Brian Gareau, Department of Sociology

HIGHLIGHTS

• 3 Credits

• Arrival/Departure: August 4 - August 24

• Sociology major/minor elective

• International Studies major/minor elective for Global Cultural studies track

• Environmental Studeis elective

RESOURCES

Estimated Student Cost (2012)

CONTACTS

Prof. Brian J. Gareau, Assistant Professor of Sociology and International Studies

How to apply