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. After the necessary analysis of the defining aspects, the main stages that led to the "conquest of the world" by Sapiens are outlined. The ecological imbalances which resulted are analysed both from a regional perspective and on a wider global scale. Global warming and the resulting climate changes are investigated, in their causes and geographical effects, as a coherent product of a long historical path of environmental unsustainability and anthropocentric postures.

Please note that the course includes a difference between students attending or non-attending the lessons.

For those attending lessons:
a) Lesson’s notes
b) Gemenne et al. Atlante dell’Antropocene, Mimesis, 2021
c) McNeill J.R., Engelke P., La Grande accelerazione. Una storia ambientale dell’Antropocene dopo il 1945, Einaudi, 2018

For those not attending lessons:
a) Chelazzi G., L'impronta originale: storia naturale della colpa ecologica, Einaudi, 2013
b) Gemenne et al. Atlante dell’Antropocene, Mimesis, 2021
c) McNeill J.R., Engelke P., La Grande accelerazione. Una storia ambientale dell’Antropocene dopo il 1945, Einaudi, 2018

Written exam with open questions targeted at the measurement of knowledge, the ability to apply knowledge and understanding and the ability to judge. For students attending classes, the exam questions will be on lesson’s notes and on the 2 specified textbooks. For not attending students, questions will be on the 3 specified textbooks. The exams lasts 90 minutes.

Lectures with discussion and seminars

Italian

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.

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Natural capital and environmental quality" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development