Ecological
Imperialism

Earth, Wind and Fire

Why European imperialism?

            Alfred Crosby: “Ecological Imperialism”

            Creation of “neo-Europes”

Breakup of Pangaea

Breakup of Pangaea

Breakup of Pangaea

Breakup of Pangaea

Breakup of Pangaea

Breakup of Pangaea

Breakup of Pangaea

Breakup of Pangaea

Pangaea, Ecology, & History

            Ecological isolation

            America

            South Africa

            Australia

            East-West orientation of Old World

Geography and Culture

Human expansion

People Arrive, Animals Depart

 

Europeans’ portmanteau biota

            Open niches throughout the world

            Disease

            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

            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