Course: Historical ethnobotany

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Course title Historical ethnobotany
Course code KBO/123
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Lesson
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Frequency of the course In academic years starting with an even year (e.g. 2016/2017), in the winter semester.
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 6
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Skružná Jarmila, Mgr.
  • Beneš Jaromír, doc. PhDr. Ph.D.
  • Majerovičová Tereza, Mgr.
Course content
Content of lectures: 1. Introduction to characteristic, methodology and theory of historical ethnobotany. 2. Historical sources of ethnobotany. 3. Iconographical sources of ethnobotany. 4. Archaeobotanical sources of ethnobotany. 5. African ethnobotany. 6. West Asian ethnobotany. 7. East Asian ethnobotany. 8. Ethnobotany of indigenous population in North America. 9. Ethnobotany of indigenous population in South America. 10. Ethnobotany of Australia and Oceania. 11. Mediterranean ethnobotany. 12. Central and west European ethnobotany. 13. Bohemian ethnobotany. 14. Moravian ethnobotany. Content of practicals: In the seminars the essay and seminar work of the chosen theme will be created in the written form.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing), Demonstration, Experiment
  • Preparation for classes - 14 hours per semester
  • Class attendance - 42 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
Content of lectures is to understanding of character and methods of historical ethnobotany in the world context. Lectures are based on ethnological evidence of interaction between human and plants since prehistory to the modern times. The significant accent will be put on the living or recently existing archaic human communities and their relationship with individual different kind of plants.
The course will take students through ethnobotany around the world. Unlike classical ethnobotany, however, attention is paid to the domestication of plants in a historical perspective. The student will gain a global overview of the use of key plants.
Prerequisites
Lectures are accesible to all students, it is suitable for MAG and DOCT level.

Assessment methods and criteria
Test

Participate in exercises that include plant identification and ethnobotanical activities with plants.
Recommended literature
  • Cotton C.M.(1996): Ethnobotany: principles and applications, John Wiley & Sons,.
  • Hather J.G. (1994): Tropical archaeobotany: applications and new developments, Routledge..
  • Moerman D.E.(1998): Native Američan ethnobotany, Timber press Portland, London..
  • Santayana M.P., Pieroni A., Puri R.K.(2010): Ethnobotany in the new Europe: people, health, and wild plant resources. Berghahn Books..
  • Schultes R.E., Reis S.(2008), Ethnobotany: Evolution of a Discipline. Timber press..


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Botany (1) Category: Biology courses - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Winter