World historians, anthropologists, geographers, and biologists from 26 countries have pooled their knowledge to trace the interaction of humankind and nature over the course of human history, across cultures, and in the modern world. In more than 500 accessible articles emphasizing cross-cultural exchange, diffusion, and change over time, these scholars demonstrate why the approaches of environmental history are having such wide influence, and how past problems can cast new light on current debates. The distinguished editors were assisted by an international editorial advisory board and eminent contributors including Donald Worster, Alfred Crosby, William McNeill, and James Lovelock.

Contains 520 alphabetically arranged entries that examine the environmental history of the world, covering the arts, economic systems, people, places, events, religion, biomes, technology and science, climate, energy sources, regulation, and other topics; and includes maps, photographs, sidebars, and an index.

This book is an overview of human history in relationship to the natural environment, from origins to the present, with case studies of different societies in each period