ANTHR 7086 - [Histories of Food Insecurity]

ARKEO 7086

Fall. Next Offered: 2020-2021. 4 credits. Student option grading.

Co-meets with ANTHR 4086/ARKEO 4086.

M. Dedrick.

What are the historical factors that have led to food insecurity? In this course, we will consider examples from around the world to engage with that question. We will address both food production (i.e., the sustainability of agriculture and food processing) and distribution (i.e., politics, markets, access). While encouraging interdisciplinarity, this course draws mostly on environmental archaeology and history and examines the role that the humanities and social sciences can play in shaping and promoting solutions to food insecurity. We begin with readings from diverse fields to explore critical concepts, then approach case studies in broadly chronological order, starting with early human history and moving into food and colonialism, the development of corporate agriculture, and international development and food-related social movements.