[Sci-tech-public] MIT Seminar on Environmental and Agricultural History Friday, March 16, 2007

[Margo Collett]

MIT Seminar on Environmental
and Agricultural History

David Blackbourn, Coolidge Professor of History,
Harvard University


"The Conquest of Nature: Water, Landscape, and the Making of Modern Germany"

David Blackbourn will be discussing issues that arise from The 
Conquest of Nature, which examines how Germans have transformed their 
landscape since 1750 by draining marshes and moors, "correcting" the 
course of rivers, building canals, and constructing dams in the high 
valleys. The talk will draw out three themes. One is the social and 
political water wars that accompanied these changes, the clashes of 
interest over rival uses of water resources. Secondly, the talk 
discusses the unintended environmental consequences, but also asks 
whether familiar "pessimistic" accounts are adequate. Thirdly, in 
talking about landscape, David Blackbourn argues for bringing 
together the cultural history of constructs and the material history 
of physical place.

Friday, March 16, 2007
2:30 to 4:30 pm
Building E51 Room 095

Sponsored by MIT's History Faculty and the Program in Science, 
Technology, and Society
For more information or to be put on the mailing list, please contact 
Margo Collett at <mailto:mcollet at mit.edu>mcollett at mit.edu
For location visit http://whereis.mit.edu/map-jpg
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