Disaster and Human History

Benjamin Reilly is an environmental historian working at Carnegie Mellon University’s branch campus in Qatar. His publications have included French Revolutionary ideological discourse, information on lactose tolerance amongst Arabian Bedouins, and Europe’s long engagement with the Eternal City of Rome. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. A Brief History of the Modern World2. Volcanoes2.1: Krakatau, 18832.2: Mount Pelée, 19022.3: Mount Pinatubo, 19913. Earthquakes3.1: Messina Strait, 19083.2: Great Kanto Earthquake, 19233.3: Kashmir Earthquake, 20054. Environmental Changes4.1: El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)4.2: Desertification4.3: Global Warming5. Tropical Cyclones5.1: Great Bhola Cyclone, 19705.2: Cyclone Tracy, 19745.3: Hurricane Andrew, 19926. Floods and Tsunamis6.1: Yellow River Flooding, 19th and 20th Century China6.2: Flooding Caused by the Asian Tsunami, 20046.3: Flooding Caused by Hurricane Katrina, 20056.4: The Tōhoku Tsunami and Fukushima Nuclear Disaster7. Famines7.1: The Irish Potato Famine, 1846–18527.2: Mao’s Great Leap Forward7.3: Famine in Ethiopia, 1973–Present8. Disease8.1: Disease of Agriculture: Pellagra8.2: Disease of Imperialism: Malaria8.3: Disease of Industry: Cholera8.4: Disease of Globalization: AIDSConclusionBibliographyIndex

Reviews of the first edition: “a very usable environmental manual...writing is engaging...could be a valuable resource...significantly relevant”—Teaching History: A Journal of Methods; “a very enjoyable read, offering the tension and drama these hazards deserve.”—Natural Hazards Observer.