The Amazon, Climate Change, and Conservation

Catalog description

This course delves into pivotal environmental discussions reshaping our perception of the Amazon's past and future. Through firsthand accounts from key figures such as Amazonian indigenous peoples, scientist, philanthropists, and government officials, we will gain insights into the profound transformations occurring in these landscapes and their associated politics. Designed as an interdisciplinary exploration, the course begins by examining the role of Indigenous Peoples in the environmental history of the Amazon. We will explore the archaeological findings that are reshaping our understanding of this biome and the cultures that thrived there. Moving through the colonial histories of the Amazon to its republican present, we explore evolving political dynamics, regional perspectives, and distinctive viewpoints emerging from this culturally rich region. We analyze these aspects from anthropological and sociological standpoints, providing students with a comprehensive understanding that goes beyond a single national tradition.