环境史及其对自然的重新书写

长期以来,由于根深蒂固的静止世界观及地理环境决定论的消极影响,再加上人类对自然的生态价值缺乏认识,自然长期被历史学家所忽视。自19世纪后半期,一些美国学者尝试将自然纳入历史的写作范畴。经过长时间摸索,这一努力日臻成熟,集中表现在20世纪六七十年代出现的环境史。环境史扩大了历史研究的范畴,提供了观察历史的新思路和新视角,它还可以对一些重大历史事件和理论问题重新做出解释。

Environmental History and Its Focus on the Role of Nature

For a long time, the role of nature has always been ignored in historical research, due to the influence of mechanical outlook about nature as well as environmental determinism, and little understanding of the ecoligical value of nature. Since the late 19th century, many efforts has been made to historicize the natural environments, and the ultimate and successful results could be reflected by the rise of environmental history in the postwar years. The study of environmental history might broaden the scope of historical study, enrich our understanding of the past, and provide new dimension and approach to historical research. It might also provide new interpretations to many significant events and theories in the historical field.