Geographical Conditions of the Civilization Development

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

The aim of the course is to familiarize with the geographical determinants of the development of the civilization of the ancient and modern world. Classes show impact of the natural environment and its changes on the functioning of highly organized human societies. They aim to stimulate reflection on the role of man in the management of limited terrestrial resources and the attitude to the living creatures. They point to the key role of human thought in overcoming or undergoing emerging environmental challenges. The subject shows the value of connections between social sciences, humanities and natural sciences in solving key civilization problems.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Syllabus

Geographical aspects of the birth of culture and the emergence of the first civilizations

Resources of the natural environment in the history of civilization development

Geography and architecture

Climate changes and their impact on the lives of societies in the past and today

Beginnings and development of European civilization in the Mediterranean. Aspects of the geographical environment

Geographical conditions of the development of Chinese civilization and its contemporary challenges

Japanese civilization and its natural environment - from birth to the present day

From the history of civilization of the Eurasian steppe

Man as the perpetrator of ecological disasters

The wars for water in the modern world

Climatic refugees of modern times

Environmental challenges - the cause of collapse or civilization success?

Environmental ethics and the future of civilization and the natural environment. Discussion

Geography of happiness of the modern world

Reading list

a)basic literature

• Cowie J., 2001: Zmiany klimatyczne. Przyczyny, przebieg i skutki dla człowieka. środowiska Ziemi. Historia środowiska przyrodniczego i kulturowego, Wyd. Nauk. PWN, Warszawa
• Diamond J., 2005: Upadek. Dlaczego niektóre społeczeństwa upadły, a innym się udało, Prószyński i S-ka, Warszawa.
• Diamond J., 2010: Strzelby, zarazki, maszyny. Losy ludzkich społeczeństw, Prószyński i S-ka, Warszawa.

1. b) advanced literature

• Fairbank J.K., 2003: Historia Chin. Nowe spojrzenie. Wydawnictwo Marabut. Warszawa-Gdańsk
• Fernandez-Armesto F., Cywilizacje. Wyd. Nauk. PWN, Warszawa 2008.
• Kowalczyk P., 2001: Zagrożenia związane z deficytem wody. Wyd. Kurpisz S.A., Poznań.
• Roberts N., 1998: The Holocene. An Environmental History. Blackwell Publishing. Malden-Oxford-Victoria.
• Weiner E., 2016: Geografia szczęścia. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN.
• Yasuda Y. (ed.), 2000: Monsoon and Civilization. Lustre Press, Roli Books.
• Yasuda Y. (ed), 2001: Forest and Civilization. Lustre Press, Roli Books.