Author Robert Marks served as a history professor at Whittier College in Whittier, California, from 1978 until his retirement in 2019. Marks pursued his doctoral studies in history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned his PhD in 1978. His scholarly interests and areas of expertise were primarily focused on modern China and environmental history, fields in which he made significant contributions through both his teaching and his research.

Throughout his distinguished career, Marks authored several important works that have enriched the understanding of these subjects. Among his notable publications is China: An Environmental History (2017), a comprehensive examination of the environmental factors that have influenced China's development over centuries. Another significant work, Tigers, Rice, Silk, and Silt: Environment and Economy in Late Imperial China (1998), delves into the intricate relationships between the environment and economic practices during a crucial period in Chinese history. Additionally, his earlier book, Rural Revolution in South China: Peasants and the Making of History in Haifeng County, 1570-1930 (1984), provides an in-depth analysis of the social and economic transformations in a specific region of China over several centuries, highlighting the role of peasant communities in shaping historical narratives.

Marks's academic contributions have been widely recognized for their depth of research and insightful analysis, making him a respected figure in the fields of Chinese and environmental history.