Shrinking the Earth
Subtitle: the rise and decline of American abundance
By: Donald Worster
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2016-02-05
Language: eng
Number of pages: 265
ISBN-13: 9780199844951
Subjects: Human ecology; Effect of human beings on; History; Nature
Description: "The discovery of the Americas around 1500 AD was an extraordinary watershed in human experience. It gave rise to the modern period of human ecology, a phenomenon global in scope that set in motion profound changes in almost every society on earth. This new period, which saw the depletion of the lands of the New World, proved tragic for some, triumphant for others, and powerfully affecting for all."--Provided by publisher.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Prologue. Gatsby's green light; title: Second earth. The discovery of natural abundance ; Many revolutions follow ; Ultimately, stability ; Field trip : Nantucket Island; title: After the frontier. The watershed ; Land of coal and steel ; The resourceful state ; Field trip : Imperial Valley; title: Planet of limits. Plunder and plenty ; The wolf at the door ; Earth's boundaries ; Field trip : Athabasca River; title: Epilogue. Life on a pale blue dot.