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Environmental History: An Overview

Environmental History: An Overview. G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 12 th Edition Chapter 2. Dr. Richard Clements Chattanooga State Technical Community College. Key Concepts. Four Major “Revolutions” in Human Culture. U.S. Environmental History. Tribal and Frontier Era.

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Environmental History: An Overview

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  1. Environmental History: An Overview G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 12th Edition Chapter 2 Dr. Richard Clements Chattanooga State Technical Community College

  2. Key Concepts • Four Major “Revolutions”in Human Culture U.S. Environmental History • Tribal and Frontier Era • Early Conservation Era • The Environmental Era • Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic

  3. Cultural Changes and the Environment: Hunter-Gatherer Culture • Hunter-gatherers • Nomadic: seasonal movement • Limited and local environmental impact • Generally work with natural processes

  4. Cultural Changes and the Environment: The Agricultural Revolution • Agriculture • Slash and burn/shifting cultivation (See Fig. 2-3 p. 25) • Essentially sustainable resource use • Increased environmental impact Refer to Connections on p. 26

  5. Cultural Changes and the Environment: The Industrial Revolution • Industrial Revolution (mid-1700’s) • Shift to dependence on non-renewable resources • Dramatic increase in environmental impact Refer to Connections onp. 27

  6. Cultural Changes and the Environment: The Information Revolution/Globalization • Information Revolution • Rate of information increase and speed of communication • Globalization • Decrease in cultural diversity

  7. Effect of Cultural Changes on Human Population Size ? Continued growth Population stabilization ? Number of Humans Population crash ? (10,000 years) Industrial and information revolutions (100,000 years) Agricultural revolution (1 million years) Tool-making revolution Time Fig. 2.2, p. 24

  8. Environmental History of the United States: The Tribal and Frontier Eras • Tribal Era: Native Americans • Native Americans generally low-impact hunter-gather or agricultural societies • Frontier Environmental Worldview: European Settlement (1607-1890) • Significant impact as wilderness frontier was “tamed”

  9. Environmental History of the United States: The Early Conservation Era • Period: 1832-1960 • Concern over resource use • Preservation of public lands • Public health initiatives • Environmental restoration projects

  10. Important Figures During The Early Conservation Era • Henry David Thoreau • George Perkins Marsh • John Muir • Theodore Roosevelt • Alice Hamilton • Franklin Roosevelt

  11. Environmental History of the United States: The Environmental Era • Period: 1960-2000 • The environmental movement • The science of ecology • Spaceship Earth worldview • 1980’s: anti-environmental movement • 1990’s: environmental awareness

  12. Important Figures During The Environmental Era • Rachel Carson: Silent Spring (1962)(See Individuals Matter on p. 36) • Richard Nixon: EPA; ESA • Jimmy Carter: DOE, Superfund • Ronald Reagan: anti-environmentalist • Bill Clinton: environmental concerns a priority

  13. Case Study: 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

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