How European Attitudes, Deforestation and the Introduction of Biological Factors shaped American Environmental History
MJ
How European Attitudes, Deforestation and the Introduction of Biological Factors shaped American Environmental History In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail from the Eastern coast of Europe seeking to find a shorter passage to what He believed would lead him to the Indies. Yet, in his quest for the Indies, Columbus stumbled on a land far greater and completely breathtaking…the Americas. Although Columbus and his crew were well aware of what they discovered, at least to a certain extent (they eventually realized they were not in the Indies); Columbus and his fellow men could not have possibly predicted the profound impacts their discovery would have on the environment of the Americas. Little did Columbus know that the Americas would truly open a door to a whole New World. Even more importantly, Columbus could not have predicted that the founding of the Americas would close the door to an already established world native to millions of people. Donald Worster, in his essay “The Nature We Have Lost” argues that “the real forces of change” in American environmental history are rooted in Euro-American culture. Yet, this claim is far too simplistic and ignores many of the other factors which played an integral role in changing the environmental history of the Americas. It ignores the fact that the European people were ready for a fresh new start in the “land-o-plenty”; it ignores the importance of their attitudes towards the environment and the natives, it severely downplays the introduction of many biological factors, some unintentional. It even ignores how deforestation had a profound impact on the environment. Worster virtually ignores the evidence of how a combination of all these factors gave them a sufficient advantage in claiming the land that once belonged to a people who had inherited it centuries ago. This trifecta of factors led to possibly the greatest environmental shift that the world had ever experienced. Christopher Columbus has been credited
How European Attitudes, Deforestation and the Introduction of Biological Factors shaped American Environmental History In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail from the Eastern coast of Europe seeking to find a shorter passage to what He believed would lead him to the Indies. Yet, in his quest for the Indies, Columbus stumbled on a land far greater and completely breathtaking…the Americas. Although Columbus and his crew were well aware of what they discovered, at least to a certain extent (they eventually realized they were not in the Indies); Columbus and his fellow men could not have possibly predicted the profound impacts their discovery would have on the environment of the Americas. Little did Columbus know that the Americas would truly open a door to a whole New World. Even more importantly, Columbus could not have predicted that the founding of the Americas would close the door to an already established world native to millions of people. Donald Worster, in his essay “The Nature We Have Lost” argues that “the real forces of change” in American environmental history are rooted in Euro-American culture. Yet, this claim is far too simplistic and ignores many of the other factors which played an integral role in changing the environmental history of the Americas. It ignores the fact that the European people were ready for a fresh new start in the “land-o-plenty”; it ignores the importance of their attitudes towards the environment and the natives, it severely downplays the introduction of many biological factors, some unintentional. It even ignores how deforestation had a profound impact on the environment. Worster virtually ignores the evidence of how a combination of all these factors gave them a sufficient advantage in claiming the land that once belonged to a people who had inherited it centuries ago. This trifecta of factors led to possibly the greatest environmental shift that the world had ever experienced. Christopher Columbus has been credited