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Landscape studies provide a crucial perspective into the interaction between humans and their environment, shedding insight on social, cultural, and economic topics. The research explores both the way that natural processes have affected the development of culture and society, as well as the ways that natural landscapes themselves are the product of historical and cultural processes.
Most previous studies of the landscape selectively focused on either the natural sciences or the social sciences, but the research presented in African Landscapes bridges that gap. This work is unique in its interdisciplinary scope. Over the past twelve years, the contributors to this volume have participated in the collaborative research center ACACIA (Arid Climate Adaptation and Cultural Innovation in Africa), which deals with the relationship between cultural processes and ecological dynamics in Africa's arid areas.
The case studies presented here come from mainly Sahara/Sahel and southwestern Africa, and are all linked to broader discussions on the concept of landscape, and themes of cultural, anthropological, geographical, botanical, sociological, and archaeological interest. The contributions in this work are enhanced by full color photographs that put the discussion in context visually.
List of contents
Arid Landscapes: Detection and Reconstruction - Perspectives from Earth Sciences and Archaeology.- Landscape in Geography and Landscape Ecology, Landscape Specification and Classification in Geomorphology.- Towards a Reconstruction of Land Use Potential.- Landscape Ecology of Savannas.- Quantitative Classification of Landscapes in Northern Namibia Using an ASTER Digital Elevation Model.- Risks and Resources in an Arid Landscape.- Resources, Use Potential and Basic Needs.- State, Power and Control in Africa's Arid Landscapes: Perspectives from the Historical Sciences.- The 'Landscapes' of Ancient Egypt.- A Land of Goshen.- From the Old Location to Bishops Hill The Politics of Urban Planning and Landscape History in Windhoek, Namibia.- Landscape and Nostalgia.- Identity, Memory and Power in Africa's Arid Landscapes: Perspectives from Social and Cultural Anthropology.- The Anthropological Study of Landscape.- Kinship, Ritual and Landscape among the Himba of Northwest Namibia.- The Spectator's and the Dweller's Perspectives.- Is this a Drought or is this a Drought and what is really Beautiful? Different Conceptualizations of the !Khuiseb Catchment (Central Namibia) and their Consequences.- Where Settlements and the Landscape Merge.- Language and the Conceptualisation and Epistemics of African Arid Landscapes: Perspectives from Linguistics and Oral History.- Two Ways of Conceptualizing Natural Landscapes.- Landscape Conceptualisation in Mbukushu.- Otjiherero Praises of Places.
Summary
Landscape studies provide a crucial perspective into the interaction between humans and their environment, shedding insight on social, cultural, and economic topics. The research explores both the way that natural processes have affected the development of culture and society, as well as the ways that natural landscapes themselves are the product of historical and cultural processes.
Most previous studies of the landscape selectively focused on either the natural sciences or the social sciences, but the research presented in African Landscapes bridges that gap. This work is unique in its interdisciplinary scope. Over the past twelve years, the contributors to this volume have participated in the collaborative research center ACACIA (Arid Climate Adaptation and Cultural Innovation in Africa), which deals with the relationship between cultural processes and ecological dynamics in Africa’s arid areas.
The case studies presented here come from mainly Sahara/Sahel and southwestern Africa, and are all linked to broader discussions on the concept of landscape, and themes of cultural, anthropological, geographical, botanical, sociological, and archaeological interest. The contributions in this work are enhanced by full color photographs that put the discussion in context visually.
Additional text
From the reviews:
“The volume appears to be marketed primarily at researchers interested in African landscapes … . the volume’s production quality is good. The typeface and layout is attractive and the quality of English is sound overall … . In summary, this is an eclectic, quirky, at times challenging … interesting volume. … will form a useful addition to many library shelves.” (Stephen Tooth, Journal of African Archaeology, Vol. 9 (1), January, 2011)
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From the reviews:
"The volume appears to be marketed primarily at researchers interested in African landscapes ... . the volume's production quality is good. The typeface and layout is attractive and the quality of English is sound overall ... . In summary, this is an eclectic, quirky, at times challenging ... interesting volume. ... will form a useful addition to many library shelves." (Stephen Tooth, Journal of African Archaeology, Vol. 9 (1), January, 2011)
