More than two thirds of Americans are today living in urban areas. This course looks at the rise of individual cities in the US and how natural environments have shaped them. What role has nature played in shaping culture and the economy in cities from LA to Washington DC? We will look at Desert Cities like Las Vegas and at cities threatened by global warming such as New Orleans and Miami. What role has geology played in siting cities? How has industrialization and migration shaped city environments? How are US cities connected with their hinterland, and how are they connected globally? By looking at individual cities, we will learn about problems with pollution and waste, water scarcity, food security, urban sprawl, traffic, parks, as well as social and environmental injustice. At the end of the lecture, we will get a deep understanding not only about America’s past but also about its future.

Gruppenanmeldungen (z.B. von Schulklassen) sind nach vorheriger Absprache möglich. Bei Inetresse wenden Sie sich hierfür bitte an die folgende E-Mail-Adresse: Mauch@lmu.de