catastrophism

catastrophism

The view that the Earth's geological landscape is the result of violent cataclysmic events. Advocates of this theory usually believe that there have been a number of wide-spread violent and sudden natural catastrophes that have destroyed most living things. This idea was used by George Cuvier to explain the extinction of species. Catastrophism was opposed by uniformitarianism during the late 18th and 19th centuries.

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Industry/Domain: Anthropology
Category: Physical anthropology
Company: Palomar College
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