Karl Butzer
Encyclopedia
Karl W. Butzer is an American geographer, cultural ecologist and environmental archaeologist. He was born in Germany on 19 August 1934. While he was still a child, his family emigrated, first to England, and then to Canada. He obtained a master's degree in Meteorology and Geography from McGill University
and a doctorate in physical geography from the University of Bonn
in Germany.
From 1959 through 1966 he taught at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. This was followed by a stint at the ETH in Zurich, Switzerland. Next, he taught at the University of Chicago
until 1984. After that, he went to the Department of Geography and the Environment at University of Texas at Austin
.
(ed.) 1978 Dimensions of Human Geography: Essays on Some Familiar and Neglected Themes.
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
and a doctorate in physical geography from the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
in Germany.
From 1959 through 1966 he taught at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. This was followed by a stint at the ETH in Zurich, Switzerland. Next, he taught at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
until 1984. After that, he went to the Department of Geography and the Environment at University of Texas at Austin
Department of Geography and the Environment at University of Texas at Austin
The Department of Geography and The Environment at The University of Texas at Austin is a division unit of the College of Liberal Arts. The Department was founded in 1949 and is a research focused institution with a well-developed graduate program...
.
Honors
- 2009: Melvin G. Marcus Distinguished Career Award - Geomorphology Specialty Group of the Association of American Geographers
- Busk Medal of the Royal Geographical Society
- Fryxell Medal of the Society of American Archaeology
- 1986: Archaeological Geology Award
- 2002: Preston E. James Eminent Latin Americanist Career Award
- 1996: member, National Academy of Sciences
- Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Selected publications
- 1988 "Cattle and Sheep from Old to New Spain: Historical Antecedents," Annals of the Association of American Geographers 78: 29-56.
- 1982 Archaeology as Human Ecology: Method and Theory for a Contextual Approach.
- 1964 Environment and Archaeology: An Ecological Approach to Prehistory.
- 1993 "The Classical Tradition of Agronomic Science: Perspectives on Carolingian Agriculture and Agronomy," In: P.L. Butzer and D. Lohrmann (eds.), Science in Western and eastern Civilization in Carolingian Times, pp. 539-596.
(ed.) 1978 Dimensions of Human Geography: Essays on Some Familiar and Neglected Themes.