Environmental History Archives

Discuss the important trends in environmental history writing on India

Leave a Comment / MHI-08: HISTORY OF ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT: INDIA /

Introduction Environmental history is the study of the relationship between people and their environment over time. In India, this field of study has developed steadily over the last few decades. It focuses on how humans have used, changed, and sometimes damaged nature. It also examines how environmental changes have shaped human lives. In this post, […]

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Adaptation is key to understand human-nature relationships. Discuss.

Leave a Comment / MHI-08: HISTORY OF ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT: INDIA /

Introduction Human beings have always lived in close connection with nature. From early times, people depended on forests, rivers, animals, and land for food, shelter, and survival. Over time, they developed ways to live in different environments. This process is called adaptation. In simple words, adaptation means adjusting to the surroundings. Understanding how humans adapt

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How did the Industrial revolution and its spread shaped the colonial power’s perception of environment?

Leave a Comment / MHI-08: History of Ecology and Environment in India /

Introduction The Industrial Revolution was a major turning point in global history, transforming economies, societies, and environments. Originating in Britain in the late 18th century, it spread to other parts of Europe and eventually influenced colonial powers, including their rule in India. The revolution altered the colonial powers’ perception of the environment — from a

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Discuss the pattern of agrarian expansion in the Indian subcontinent.

Leave a Comment / MHI-08: History of Ecology and Environment in India /

Introduction Agrarian expansion in the Indian subcontinent has been a defining feature of its social, economic, and ecological history. It refers to the progressive extension of agriculture into new territories, conversion of forests and wastelands into cultivable fields, and intensification of agricultural activities over time. From the early Vedic period to the colonial era, the

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Ecological impacts of Colonial interventions on Indian natural resources have been the prime concerns of environmental historians.

Leave a Comment / MHI-08: History of Ecology and Environment in India /

Introduction The colonial era in India marked a significant transformation in the management and exploitation of natural resources. British interventions in forestry, land, agriculture, and water systems had far-reaching ecological consequences that continue to affect India’s environment. Environmental historians have extensively studied these changes to understand how colonial economic and political priorities led to environmental

Ecological impacts of Colonial interventions on Indian natural resources have been the prime concerns of environmental historians. Read More »

Do you agree that nature of landscape influences the pattern of human settlements? Elaborate with reference to Indian subcontinent.

Leave a Comment / MHI-08: History of Ecology and Environment in India /

Introduction The nature of landscape has always played a foundational role in shaping the pattern of human settlements. Geography, climate, soil fertility, water availability, and topography directly influence where and how humans choose to live. In the Indian subcontinent, the diversity of landscape — from the Himalayas in the north to the coastal plains in

Do you agree that nature of landscape influences the pattern of human settlements? Elaborate with reference to Indian subcontinent. Read More »

Comment on the nature of the colonial forest policy.

Leave a Comment / MHI-04: Political Structures in India /

Introduction Colonial forest policy in India was a defining element of British imperial governance, deeply affecting the environmental, social, and economic landscapes of the subcontinent. Instituted primarily to serve British economic interests, these policies transformed traditional forest usage, marginalized indigenous communities, and introduced centralized regulation. In this essay, we examine the nature, objectives, and consequences

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