Ecological
Imperialism

Earth, Wind and Fire

Why European imperialism?

– Alfred Crosby: “Ecological Imperialism”

– Creation of “neo-Europes”

Breakup of Pangaea

Pangaea Breaks Up

Pangaea, Ecology, History

– Ecological isolation

– America

– South Africa

– Australia

– East-West orientation of Old World

Human Expansion

People Arrive — Animals Depart

Geography and Culture

Europeans’ “portmanteau biota”

– Open niches throughout the world

– Plants

– Grains, grasses, weeds

– Few native plants

– Animals

– Pigs & cattle make inedible edible

– Horses thrive in open grassland niche

– Insects and vermin

– Bees, rats, roaches

– Disease

– Failure if niches full, diseases worse

Contact’s effect on American ecology

– Trade changes Indian relation with animals

– Beaver skins, deerskin, buffalo hides

– Dependency

– Animals flourish as Indians die off

– Europeans find amazing abundance, like Eden

– Demographic collapse worsens Little Ice Age