Cataclysms: An Environmental History of Humanity

Laurent Testot

Published by University of Chicago Press 2020

Cataclysms

An Environmental History of Humanity

Laurent Testot
Translated by: Katherine Throssell

https://doi.org/10.7208/9780226609263

Overview
Contents

About this book

Humanity is by many measures the biggest success story in the animal kingdom; but what are the costs of this triumph? Over its three million years of existence, the human species has continuously modified nature and drained its resources. In Cataclysms, Laurent Testot provides the full tally, offering a comprehensive environmental history of humanity’s unmatched and perhaps irreversible influence on the world.

Testot explores the interconnected histories of human evolution and planetary deterioration, arguing that our development from naked apes to Homo sapiens has entailed wide-scale environmental harm. Testot makes the case that humans have usually been catastrophic for the planet, “hyperpredators” responsible for mass extinctions, deforestation, global warming, ocean acidification, and unchecked pollution, as well as the slaughter of our own species. Organized chronologically around seven technological revolutions, Cataclysms unspools the intertwined saga of humanity and our environment, from our shy beginnings in Africa to today’s domination of the planet, revealing how we have blown past any limits along the way—whether by exploding our own population numbers, domesticating countless other species, or harnessing energy from fossils. Testot’s book, while sweeping, is light and approachable, telling the stories—sometimes rambunctious, sometimes appalling—of how a glorified monkey transformed its own environment beyond all recognition.

In order to begin reversing our environmental disaster, we must have a better understanding of our own past and the incalculable environmental costs incurred at every stage of human innovation. Cataclysms offers that understanding and the hope that we can now begin to reform our relationship to the Earth.

Author / Editor information

Laurent Testot is a French journalist and lecturer who specializes in global history. His books include Homo Canis and The New World History. Katharine Throssell is a professional translator.

Reviews

"Testot's Cataclysms: An Environmental History of Humanity is a global and historical tour de force of humans facing nature; from the earliest of times to our present days. Testot's book demonstrates that we still are monkeys; basically seeking the tribal pleasures of a warm pool. Yes, the human monkey has conquered the world, dominated nature, and transformed the Earth. But that's it. Nothing more. Thus, in 2020, this monkey world is as vulnerable as ever in its struggle to cope with a single, tiny virus—COVID-19. Now is the time to stop, think, and read this book."

— Dag Herbjørnsrud, global historian of ideas and founder of SGOKI.org

'Whether it be the internet or the coronavirus, we all know the world is connected. But how did we get here? In this brilliant, highly readable book, Testot answers that question. He follows humanity’s trek out of Africa and the footprint this ‘naked ape’ left behind as humans conquered the world’s continents. It is a study of environmental tragedy, but Testot also tells a story of hope. He provides a history of our shared past from the earliest times to the present and, in so doing, suggests how this can help us to make the future better."

— Christopher Goscha, Université du Québec à Montréal

“Welcome to the world that the alpha predator—we, of course—have made. Roving the globe to chronicle the catastrophes that humans have visited on the planet, Testot brings to the abstract idea of environmental collapse wisdom, warmth, and warning. This is the book we all need to read.”

— Timothy Brook, University of British Columbia

“In this essential book, Testot has written a fascinating history of the relationship of mankind with its environment. At each stage of its historical evolution since the Neolithic, mankind has led a more and more aggressive war on nature. The question remains: who will end this war and prevent us from entering into chaos? To answer, this book is a must-read."

— Philippe Beaujard, author of The Worlds of the Indian Ocean

“Testot’s message, that humanity is quickly losing its window for averting environmental collapse and that ‘neoliberal ideology’ is the main culprit, is crystal clear and hammered home regularly. There’s a great deal of breadth in this ambitious work.”

— Publishers Weekly

“It will undoubtedly charm newcomers to the field with its narrative style and ambitious scope–Testot knows how to spin a fine yarn and provides an entry point to many fascinating chapters in world history that readers will want to explore further."

— Inquisitive Biologist

"Testot, a science journalist, shows how humanity's achievements have undermined the environment we depend on, or, as he puts it, 'humanity is waging war on our planet.'" . . . An informative book. . . . Recommended."

— Choice

"In Cataclysms, Laurent Testot, a historian and science journalist, invites the readers to follow the story of humankind from three million years ago to the 21st century. Cataclysms has the subtitle An Environmental History of Humanity. Traditionally, environmental history books span decades, at most centuries. However, Testot’s grander timescale allows for a greater understanding of the human history he wants to chronicle. . . . A general audience will enjoy the narrative style, accessible writing and the quick pace with which Testot takes the reader through the timescale of three million years and from continent to continent. This writing style and language make the book suitable for scholars from a broad range of disciplines, which is particularly helpful given the transdisciplinary nature of environmental history."

— The Holocene

"This book is quite a tour de force of human history and prehistory that spans all the continents and avoids being overly Eurocentric, as many earlier accounts have been. It is full of amazing details and stories that will delight the reader."

— Conservation Biology

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
CONTENTS Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Introduction Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
PART I: MONKEY CONQUERS THE WORLD
1 We Are the Children of the Climate Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	3
2 The End of the Elephants Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	25
3 The Wheat Deal Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	50
4 Collapse Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	79
PART II: MONKEY DOMINATES NATURE
5 When Gods Guide the Way Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	95
6 All Empires Will Fall Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	116
7 After Summer Comes Winter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	139
8 Biological Hazards Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	164
9 Demographic Hazards Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	186
PART III: MONKEY TRANSFORMS THE EARTH
10 The Promises of Quicksilver Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	207
11 Cold, Cold Earth Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	226
12 Dying for the Forest Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	241
13 Unlimited Energy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	259
14 The Cold Chill of Catastrophe Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	285
15 A Time of Excess Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	308
16 The Blind Flock Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	332
17 Tomorrow’s World Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	348
Conclusion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	379
Epilogue to the English Edition: Two and a Half Years after the French Edition . . . Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	387
Appendix A: Glossary Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	395
Appendix B: Chronology Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	399
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	407
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	425
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	445

Language: English
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 480
Illustrations
- Other: 1 halftone, 1 table
Keywords: environment; environmental; history; historical; humanity; human nature; worldwide; world; global; international; success; species; resources; natural; pollution; climate change; influence; problems; crisis; crises; evolution; deterioration; homo sapien; harm; environmentalism; conservation; science; scientific; extinction; deforestation; acidification; oceans; technology

eBook

Published: November 9, 2020
ISBN: 9780226609263