HIST 486JUrban Farming in World History

Catalog

HIST 486J/576A - Urban Farming in World History Professor Aleks Shopov Fall 2026 Course Description: This course explores histories and case studies of urban farming across the globe, including cities in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. Students will engage with a number of questions. For instance, what role has farming played in urbanization? How has farming in the city impacted urban diets, cultures, and economies? How has urban farming shaped science and technology? What different models have existed for growing food in the city? What kinds of relationships have existed between cities and countrysides? From the community gardens of Detroit, to the large agricultural complex in Havana, to the produce gardens of Istanbul, what lessons can historic and contemporary cases of urban farming give us for a more sustainable future? Rather than centering exclusively on humans, the course will also allow students to explore the active role played by plants and animals in urban cultures and environments.