East Africa's Human Environment Interactions: Historical Perspectives for a Sustainable Future

This book explores the complex interactions between the natural and unnatural histories of East Africa, tracing their evolution from the origins of our species to the present day. It examines the impact of technological developments, human migrations, and international trade routes on the region's environment and human landscapes, and provides a balanced perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing East Africa in the Anthropocene era.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 411 pages
Publication date: 15 January 2023
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This book is a groundbreaking synthesis of ecological, archaeological, anthropological land use sciences, drawing on human geography, demography, and economics of development across the East Africa region. It aims to understand and unravel the intricate interplay between the region's natural and unnatural history, tracing this interaction from the evolutionary foundations of our species approximately 200,000 years ago, through the outward and inward human migrations often associated with the adoption of subsistence strategies, new technologies, and the arrival of new crops. The book will explore the profound impact of technological advancements, such as transitions to tool making, metallurgy, and the introduction of crops, which also had an international dimension and resulted in waves of human migrations into and out of East Africa.

Time will be presented with a widening focus, framing the contemporary with a particular focus on the Anthropocene (the last 500 years) to the present day. Many of the current challenges have their roots in precolonial and colonial history, and the book will examine how these have evolved and the impact on the region's environmental and human landscapes. As we enter the Anthropocene era, there is increasing exposure to the international drivers of change, such as those associated with ivory and slave trade. These international trade routes were intricately linked to the subsequent decimation of elephant populations, the exploitation of natural mineral resources, and the ongoing pursuit of these resources to this day.

The book aims to provide a balanced perspective on the region, its people, and how the natural and unnatural histories have converged to create a dynamic and evolving region. These historical perspectives will be galvanized to outline the future possibilities and opportunities for the East Africa region.

Weight: 577g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030889890
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021