Franz Uekoetter examines the evolution of environmental history in the context of globalization, highlighting its early global focus and the more recent trend toward specialization and nuanced narratives. While early works in the field often relied on sweeping generalizations, there is now a call for a new paradigm that integrates environmental history into broader global history without isolating it as a standalone counternarrative. Uekoetter argues that a more focused transnational environmental history, grounded in common ecological issues rather than global generalizations, could provide a fresh perspective on the world’s history from the ground up. This approach emphasizes regional similarities and ecological patterns, offering an opportunity to redefine global narratives in history.
Frank Uekoetter (Fri,) studied this question.