How Nature Sculpted Humanity

As a carbon-based lifeform on the third planet from the sun, people exist as a part of Life not separate from it. Yet, various historical accounts relate how human cultures have tried to exempt themselves from Nature's influence. Predators, locusts, diseases, and famines were just a few factors that motivated such efforts. Balancing Nature's harsher side are the many benefits conferred upon humanity ranging from firewood to medicines. This class, by detailing various interactions between Nature and people—whales and mosquitoes, trees and charcoal—will explore an aspect of history either entirely absent or scarcely mentioned in textbooks.