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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 May 2016
The evolutionary history of active galaxies is surveyed and contrasted with recent observations of the evolution of star and element formation rates with cosmic epoch. The problem of taking proper account of the effects of dust obscuration in optical and ultraviolet observations is reviewed. Recent submillimetre surveys have been used to derive the star formation rate as a function of cosmic epoch independent of dust obscuration. These observations suggest that the star formation rate peaked at redshifts z ˜ 2 – 4, similar to the maximum in the evolution of the populations of active galaxies. The inference of these observations for theories of galaxy formation is discussed.