Since 1492, when Columbus 'discovered' America, the world has been moving toward an increasingly integrated global economy, higher population levels and consequently greater resource demands, and an increasingly precarious state of the biosphere. These developments play a major part in both modern history and in daily life. Understanding their interrelationships and development is crucial to the future of humanity and of the Earth, and is the unifying theme of this collection of readings.
Preface; Part I. Introduction: 1. The vulnerable Earth: toward a planetary history Donald Worster; Part II. Dynamics of Change: 2. Environment, population, and technology in primitive societies Ester Boserup; 3. Climatic fluctuations and population problems in early modern history Gustaf Utterström; 4. The English industrial revolution Richard G. Wilkinson; Part III. The European Invasion: 5. Ecological imperialism: the overseas migration of Western Europeans as a biological phenomenon Alfred W. Crosby; 6. The depletion of India's forests under British imperialism: planters, foresters, and peasants in Assam and Kerala Richard P. Tucker; 7. Toward an archaeology of colonialism: elements in the ecological transformation of the Ivory Coast Timothy C. Weiskel; Part IV. Conserving Nature - Past and Present: 8. The myth of the southern soil miner: macrohistory, agricultural innovation, and environmental change Carville Earle; 9. Toward an interactive theory of nature and culture: ecology, production, and cognition in the California fishing industry Arthur F. McEvoy; 10. Efficiency, equity, esthetics: shifting themes in American cconservation Clayton R. Koppes; 11. The changing face of soviet conservation Douglas R. Weiner; Part V. Conclusion: 12. Toward a biosphere consciousness Raymond F. Dasmann; Appendix; Bibliography; Index.
