Faculty Publications

A Human-Environment Timeline

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Great Acceleration, human-environment relationship, periodization, timeline

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Geographical Review

Volume

111

Issue

1

First Page

95

Last Page

117

Abstract

Concern about accelerating human impact on Earth systems coincides with discussion of adding a new proposed geologic epoch that would document the Age of Humans. This research contributes a human-environment timeline prototype. Time-period classification provides academics and citizens alike with a common temporal reference frame for discussion and further investigation. A hierarchical human-environment timeline was built from analysis of entries in four geographic encyclopedias. Through grounded theory, an open-ended, qualitative analysis of dates identified important events in the human-environment relationship and major ideas that shaped environmental perception. The resulting timeline prototype features a typology of periods based on five relative timescales: lengthy Durations, Duration Revolutions, intermediate-scale Scenes, Scene Transitions, and shorter Intervals. Four long-term Durations emerge: Survival (2,598,050 to 318,050 BCE), Adaptation (318,050 to 4,050 BCE), Keystone (4,950 BCE to 1945 CE), and Acceleration (1945 CE –). The timeline provides a foundation for further scholarly analysis and thinking.

Department

Department of Geography

Original Publication Date

1-1-2021

DOI of published version

10.1080/00167428.2020.1760719

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