New Earth Histories: Geo-Cosmologies and the Making of the Modern World

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 31 October 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

A kaleidoscopic reimagining of our understanding of the Earth, this comprehensive book seamlessly weaves together the histories of geosciences and world cosmologies, delving into diverse traditions such as Chinese, Pacific, Islamic, South and Southeast Asian conceptions of the Earth's origin and composition. Through a series of thought-provoking chapters, it explores the profound impact of different ideas about the sacred, animate, and earthly on modern environmental sciences. It also examines how various world traditions have interpreted human and geological origins, shedding light on the complexities of the Anthropocene and the global climate crisis.

By meticulously examining these critical questions, New Earth Histories sets an ambitious agenda for rethinking our relationship with the Earth. The chapters delve into debates surrounding the age and structure of the Earth, the intricate interplay between humans and Earth systems, and the multifaceted conceptions of empire across different traditions. The authors employ a diverse range of methods, including cultural history, visual and material studies, ethnography, geography, and Indigenous studies, to shed light on how earth knowledge emerged from historically specific contexts.

In addition to providing a valuable framework for studying science on a global scale, New Earth Histories offers captivating examples that serve as both educational tools and sources of inspiration for future research. This essential reading is a must for students and scholars of earth science history, environmental humanities, history of science and religion, and science and empire, as it offers a profound exploration of our planet's past and present.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226828602