GEOGRAPHY OF THE ANTHROPOCENE

The course is inserted as a choice exam in the Bachelor's degree in "Storia" (FT5). As such, it offers the opportunity to explore some issues of the concept of the Anthropocene.
This concept is emerging as a synthesis of the changings affect the global ecological system. As a product of man-environment relations, it appears to be fruitfully investigable from the point of view of the human sciences and in particular from the geographical ones. The main objective of the course is to provide some tools to analyse the historical origin and the geographical distribution of the effects of the Anthropocene.

1. Knowledge and understanding
1.1 Acquiring the fundamental concepts of the man-environment relationship in a geo-historical key
1.2 Knowing the contemporary impacts of human activities on the environment, with particular attention to the problem of climate change

2. Applying knowledge and analyzing
2.1 Use the tools of geography to read the territorial effects of activities that involve alterations in the environmental and climatic system of the Planet
2.2 Recognize and identify the cultural and technological processes that have guided the evolution of our species, and its organizational forms, and the progressive expansion of its ecological niche
2.3 Critically address the geographical-environmental literature on the anthropocene

3. Ability to judge
3.1 Evaluate the geo-historical processes that have contributed to configuring Sapiens' ecological transgressivity, and the specific and cultural responsibilities of the ecological crisis

4. Communication skills:
4.1. Writing in a logic and synthetic style, in order to expose the knowledge acquired
4.2. Use of terminology and semantic register appropriate to the discipline

Fundamentals of physical and human geography

The course will provide the key themes of a Geography of the Anthropocene from a predominantly historical perspective, consistent with the main didactic purpose of the course. After the necessary analysis of the defining aspects and the scientific debate they fuel, the main stages that have underpinned the ‘conquest of the world’ by Sapiens are traced, starting with the theme of the great Pleistocene extinctions.
Specific attention is then paid to some specific components of the current ecological crisis, addressed both from a regional perspective and, above all, on the broader global scale. These include the theme of global warming and climate change, their causes, geographical effects and scenarios.
The historical-philosophical posture of anthropocentrism is constantly recalled as the interpretative background and, at the same time, the driving force behind the crisis and the target towards a real culture of sustainability.

a) Chelazzi G., L'impronta originale: storia naturale della colpa ecologica, Einaudi, 2013
b) McNeill J.R., Engelke P., La Grande accelerazione. Una storia ambientale dell’Antropocene dopo il 1945, Einaudi, 2018
c) Chakrabarty D., Clima, Storia e Capitale, Nottetempo, 2021

Letture consigliate:
- Pievani T., Varotto M., Viaggio nell'Italia dell'Antropocene. La geografia visionaria del nostro futuro, Aboca Edizioni, 2021

Written exam with open questions targeted at the measurement of knowledge, the ability to apply knowledge and understanding and the ability to judge. The exams lasts 90 minutes and can be conducted in moodle mode (to be confirmed). It is therefore necessary to be equipped with a laptop or tablet in off-line mode during the examination. .

written

Evaluation grid:

27-30 cum laude: excellent knowledge of the syllabus with the ability to analyse the texts in depth; organic vision of the themes addressed in class and/or studied in the texts; excellent disciplinary language and adequate semantic register

23-26: good knowledge of the syllabus and ability to analyse correctly but with some imperfections; fair ownership of disciplinary language with some uncertainty in exposition and/or imprecision

18-22: sufficient but sketchy knowledge of the syllabus; superficial understanding of texts and limited ability to analyse; expression not always appropriate.

negative assessment: poor knowledge of the programme; inadequate ability to analyse; incorrect or inappropriate written expression

Lectures with discussion and seminars

Accessibility, Disability and Inclusion - Accommodation and support services for students with disabilities and students with specific learning impairments: Ca’ Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). If you have a disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.