Ian Whyte – författare

During the last twenty years there has been an explosion of new research into the development of Scotland from a small, backward country on the periphery of Europe to one poised to undergo industrialisation in step with England. This book provides an overview of key themes related to social change and economic development in early Modern Scotland aimed at demonstrating how this transformation occurred.

Migration is the most imprecise and difficult of all aspects of pre-industrial population to measure. It was a major element in economic and social change in early modern Britain, yet, despite a wealth of detailed research in recent years, there has been no systematic survey of its importance. This book reviews a wide range of aspects of population migration, and their impacts on British society, from Tudor times to the main phase of the Industrial Revolution.

Originally published in 1991, this book covers an usually long time – from the 17th to the 20th Century – and considers the impact of internal migration and immigration (primarily in Britain) as well as emigration to North America, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Population movements are now recognized to be an integral part of structural change within society and this book brings together a variety of approaches. Drawing on the findings of historians, geographers and sociologists, the essays highlight areas of concern and illustrate some of the directions research on migration was taking in the early 1990s.

Originally published in 1991, this book covers an usually long time – from the 17th to the 20th Century – and considers the impact of internal migration and immigration (primarily in Britain) as well as emigration to North America, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Population movements are now recognized to be an integral part of structural change within society and this book brings together a variety of approaches. Drawing on the findings of historians, geographers and sociologists, the essays highlight areas of concern and illustrate some of the directions research on migration was taking in the early 1990s.

Originally published in 1990 this book focusses on the main manoeuvres that took place in Scotland and England between 1688 and the Battle of Culloden in 1746. It provides a detailed chronological narrative of places, people and battles. Many of the sites associated with the Jacobites have not changed greatly in the last two centuries, and the book is extensively illustrated with photographs and specially drawn maps. The book examines objectively the often contradictory and imprecise accounts surviving from the time in order to discover the real events and significance of the Jacobite risings.

Originally published in 1990 this book focusses on the main manoeuvres that took place in Scotland and England between 1688 and the Battle of Culloden in 1746. It provides a detailed chronological narrative of places, people and battles. Many of the sites associated with the Jacobites have not changed greatly in the last two centuries, and the book is extensively illustrated with photographs and specially drawn maps. The book examines objectively the often contradictory and imprecise accounts surviving from the time in order to discover the real events and significance of the Jacobite risings.

Originally published in 1991 and focussing on the countryside, this book examines patterns of settlement and agriculture in Scotland and considers how these were increasingly altered during the 17th and 18th Centuries by the first Improvers and then by the more widespread impact of the Agricultural Revolution. It considers the effect on the landscape of the changing role of the church, the development of improved communications and the rise of new industries. The book analyses in detail the ways in which the landscape changed in Scotland’s transition from a medieval, impoverished country and an undeveloped economy to a modern society and one of the most highly urbanised countries in Europe.

Originally published in 1991 and focussing on the countryside, this book examines patterns of settlement and agriculture in Scotland and considers how these were increasingly altered during the 17th and 18th Centuries by the first Improvers and then by the more widespread impact of the Agricultural Revolution. It considers the effect on the landscape of the changing role of the church, the development of improved communications and the rise of new industries. The book analyses in detail the ways in which the landscape changed in Scotland’s transition from a medieval, impoverished country and an undeveloped economy to a modern society and one of the most highly urbanised countries in Europe.

Originally published in 1995, this book brings together material from many sources and offers a balanced appreciation of the ways in which climatic changes can interact with society. The questions it discusses are as relevant now as when the book was published: how far should governments go in taking expensive and unpopular measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Will the warming trend produce results as dire as have been predicted? It does not presuppose a background in science and extensive use is made of case studies drawn from around the world to put scientific principles into context. An invaluable book for those approaching the subject for the first time.

Originally published in 1995, this book brings together material from many sources and offers a balanced appreciation of the ways in which climatic changes can interact with society. The questions it discusses are as relevant now as when the book was published: how far should governments go in taking expensive and unpopular measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Will the warming trend produce results as dire as have been predicted? It does not presuppose a background in science and extensive use is made of case studies drawn from around the world to put scientific principles into context. An invaluable book for those approaching the subject for the first time.

Increasing awareness of the extent and cause of environmental problems has fuelled the emergence of a new and timely discipline: environmental history. An exciting blend of geography, history, archaeology, anthropology, landscape, environment and science, it seeks to reveal how human activity has affected the environment in the past and how we, in turn, have been affected by that environment. How did people use and transform their environment? What problems of pollution and resource depletion occurred? What has been the impact of industrialisation and urbanisation? How have people's perceptions of nature and the environment changed over time? Environmental historians are revealing how and why our environment changed in the past, they are providing key insights into the mechanisms that influence environmental change today, and are helping to make informed decisions on crucial environmental concerns such as deforestation, desertification, pollution, global warming and climate change. Professor Whyte's A Dictionary of Environmental History provides in a single volume a comprehensive reference work covering the past 12,000 years of the Earth's environmental history.An introduction to the discipline is followed by almost 1,000 entries covering key terminology, events, places, dates, topics, as well as the major personalities in the history of the discipline. Entries range from shorter factual accounts to substantial mini-essays on major topics and issues. Fully cross-referenced and with an extensive bibliography, this pioneering work provides an authoritative yet accessible resourcethat will form essential reading for academics, practitioners and students of environmental history and related disciplines.

Elephants are among the most magnificent – but also most problematic –members of South Africa's wildlife population. While they are sought after by South African and foreign tourists alike, they also have a major impact on their environment. As a result, elephant management has become a highly complex and often controversial discipline. The information needed to underpin vital decisions about elephant management has largely been unavailable to decision-makers, contested by experts, or simply unknown. As a result, the South African Minister for Environmental Affairs and Tourism convened a round table to advise him on this issue. The round table recommended that a scientific assessment of elephant management be undertaken to gather, evaluate, and present all the relevant information on this topic. Its main findings and recommendations are contained in this volume. Elephant Management is the first book of its kind, combining the work of more than 60 national and international experts. Extensively reviewed by policy-makers and other stakeholders, it is the most systematic and comprehensive review of savanna elephant populations and factors relevant to managing them to date. As such it is of interest to a broad spectrum of readers in South Africa and elsewhere. Above all, it is aimed at helping conservation policy-makers and practitioners to choose the best possible options for the sustainable preservation of these iconic animals.