Environmental History What has been the human relationship with nature?

Major Human Cultural Changes Agricultural revolution (began 10,000 to 12,000 years ago) Agricultural revolution (began 10,000 to 12,000 years ago) Industrial revolution (1800’s) Industrial revolution (1800’s) Information/Globalization revolution (1950’s to present) Information/Globalization revolution (1950’s to present)

Cultural Changes and the Environment: Hunter-Gatherer Culture Nomadic and seasonal movement Nomadic and seasonal movement Limited environmental impact Limited environmental impact Generally work with natural processes Generally work with natural processes Varied plant/animal diet-many species Varied plant/animal diet-many species

Easter Island (Rapa Nui) Early example of unsustainable resource use by humans Early example of unsustainable resource use by humans Inhabited about A.D. Inhabited about A.D. Polynesian island in Pacific Ocean Polynesian island in Pacific Ocean Inhabitants cleared all the palm trees leading to erosion of land. Inhabitants cleared all the palm trees leading to erosion of land.

Cultural Changes and the Environment: The Agricultural Revolution Domestication/selective breeding of animals Domestication/selective breeding of animals Cultivation of wild plants Cultivation of wild plants Slash and burn/shifting cultivation Slash and burn/shifting cultivation Essentially sustainable resource use Essentially sustainable resource use Increased environmental impact Increased environmental impact

Consequences of Agricultural revolution Increased production of food Increased production of food Cutting down of forests to provide fuel wood and material for building Cutting down of forests to provide fuel wood and material for building Irrigation systems Irrigation systems Urbanization Urbanization Increased production of material goods Increased production of material goods

Cultural Changes and the Environment: The Industrial Revolution  Began in England (mid-1700’s)  United States in the 1800’s  Represented shift from renewable resource (wood) to non renewable resource (coal)  Iron production  Began in England (mid-1700’s)  United States in the 1800’s  Represented shift from renewable resource (wood) to non renewable resource (coal)  Iron production

Consequences of Industrial revolution  Migration to cities  Health issues due to coal industry  Increased per acre crop yields  Increase in human population  Factory made material goods

Cultural Changes and the Environment: The Information Revolution/Globalization  New technologies  Increasingly rapid access to information on a global scale  Automated databases  I= P x A x T !!  New technologies  Increasingly rapid access to information on a global scale  Automated databases  I= P x A x T !!

Consequences of Globalization Less cultural diversity Less cultural diversity Overload of information Overload of information Respond to environmental problems more rapidly Respond to environmental problems more rapidly Rapid exchange of scientific data Rapid exchange of scientific data Increased environmental degradation ( “e- waste”… electronic waste) Increased environmental degradation ( “e- waste”… electronic waste)

Environmental History of the United States  Tribal Era  Frontier Era  Early Conservation Era  Environmental Era  Frontier Era  Early Conservation Era  Environmental Era

Tribal Era in the U.S million tribal people for 10,000 years prior to 1600’s 5-10 million tribal people for 10,000 years prior to 1600’s Simple technology, low environmental impact Simple technology, low environmental impact Respect for land and animals Respect for land and animals

Frontier Era European settlers arrived European settlers arrived Lewis and Clark expedition expanded growth to the West Lewis and Clark expedition expanded growth to the West Viewed land as a vast continent with inexhaustable resources Viewed land as a vast continent with inexhaustable resources Wilderness was “dangerous” with hostile natives and fierce animals…something to be “conquered” Wilderness was “dangerous” with hostile natives and fierce animals…something to be “conquered” Forests cut and cleared for agriculture Forests cut and cleared for agriculture

Case Study: Near extinction of American Bison In 1500, million bison in U.S. In 1500, million bison in U.S. Between at least 2.5 million bison killed per year. By 1892 only 85 left. In 1893 given refuge in Yellowstone National Park Between at least 2.5 million bison killed per year. By 1892 only 85 left. In 1893 given refuge in Yellowstone National Park Killed to supply railroad crews with meat; U.S. Army killed bison as campaign to subdue plains tribes; Farmers killed them to protect crops; and killed for sport from railroad train windows…leaving carcasses to rot. Killed to supply railroad crews with meat; U.S. Army killed bison as campaign to subdue plains tribes; Farmers killed them to protect crops; and killed for sport from railroad train windows…leaving carcasses to rot.

The Early Conservation Era  Period:  Concern over resource use  Preservation of public lands  Public health initiatives  Environmental restoration projects

Aldo Leopold ( ) A Sand County Almanac “We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” “We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.”

Aldo Leopold and His Land Ethic Aldo Leopold and His Land Ethic  Individuals are interdependent  Ethics: respect for land  Shift from conqueror to member  Problems arise when land viewed as a commodity  Preservation of the integrity, stability, and beauty of land is right

Theodore Roosevelt ( ) 26 th President of U.S. 26 th President of U.S. Established first federal wildlife refuge Established first federal wildlife refuge Designated Grand Canyon as National park Designated Grand Canyon as National park Antiquities Act Antiquities Act Avid explorer, naturalist, hunter, bird watcher Avid explorer, naturalist, hunter, bird watcher “Golden Age of Conservation” “Golden Age of Conservation”

The Environmental Era The Environmental Era  Period:  The environmental movement  The sciences of ecology and environmental science emerge  The sciences of ecology and environmental science emerge  1980’s: anti-environmental movement  1990’s: environmental awareness

The Green Movement Alternative energy sources research Alternative energy sources research “Reduce, reuse, recycle” “Reduce, reuse, recycle” Growing concern over human population growth Growing concern over human population growth Energy efficient products and services Energy efficient products and services Fair trade policies Fair trade policies