Overview

How and why have Americans living at particular times and places used and transformed their environment? How have political systems dealt with conflicts over resources and conservation? This is the only major reference work to explore all the major themes and debates of the burgeoning field of environmental history. Humanity's relationship with the natural world is one of the oldest and newest topics in human history. The issue emerged as a distinct field of scholarship in the early 1970s and has been growing steadily ever since. The discipline's territory and sources are rich and varied and include climactic and geological data, court records, archaeological digs, and the writings of naturalists, as well as federal and state economic and resource development and conservation policy. Environmental historians investigate how and why natural and human-created surroundings affect a society's development. Merchant provides a context-setting overview of American environmental history from the beginning of the millennium; an encyclopedia of important concepts, people, agencies, and laws; a chronology of major events; and an extensive bibliography including films, videos, CD-Roms, and websites. This concise ""first stop"" reference for students and general readers contains an accessible overview of environmental history; a mini-encyclopedia of ideas, people, legislation, and agencies; a chronology of events and their significance; and a bibliography of books, magazines, and journals as well as films, videos, CD-ROMs, and online resources. In addition to providing a wealth of factual information, The Columbia Guide to American Environmental History explores contentious issues in this much-debated field, from the idea of wilderness to global warming. How and why have Americans living at particular times and places used and transformed their environment? How have political systems dealt with conflicts over resources and conservation? This is the only major reference work to explore all the major themes and debates in the burgeoning field of environmental history. Humanity's relationship with the natural world is one of the oldest and newest topics in human history. The issue emerged as a distinct field of scholarship in the early 1970s and has been growing steadily ever since. The discipline's territory and sources are rich and varied and include climatic and geological data, court records, archaeological digs, and the writings of naturalists, as well as federal and state economic and resource development and conservation policy. Environmental historians investigate how and why natural and human-created surroundings affect a society's development. Merchant provides a context-setting overview of American environmental history from the precolonial land-use practice of Native Americans and concluding with twenty-first concerns over global warming. The book also includes a glossary of important concepts, people, agencies, and legislation; a chronology of major events; and an extensive bibliography including films, videos, CD-ROMs, and websites. This concise reference for students and general readers contains an accessible overview of American environmental history; a mini-encyclopedia of ideas, people, legislation, and agencies; a chronology of events and their significance; and a bibliography of books, magazines, and journals as well as films, videos, CD-ROMs, and online resources. In addition to providing a wealth of factual information, The Columbia Guide to American Environmental History explores contentious issues in this much-debated field, from the idea of wilderness to global warming.

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9780231112338

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Reviews

This volume, like others in the series, should prove to be welcome. -- Booklist Provides a useful summary of an important subject. -- American Reference Books Annual Essential for colleges, university, and large public libraries, and special libraries supporting U.S. history, ecology, geography, or environmentalism. -- Choice This is a one-volume resource not to be missed. It will be our primary reference work on American environmental history. -- John Opie, Environmental History Merchant takes a most useful approach to environmental scholarship by encapsulating a daunting range of factual information and critical information into this practical volume... one of the best books of its kind. -- History [Carolyn Merchant] is eminently qualified to produce this fifth edition to The Columbia Guides to American History and Cultures series... there is a great deal to admire in this guide. -- Environment and History An impressive introduction to environmental history... Merchant has succeeded in producing an accessible first stop handbook that will be relied on for many years. -- Environmental Practice Merchant has been one of the most important scholars building the field of environmental history. Her excellent guide will be of use to new students in environmental history and to established scholars coming into the field from other areas. -- John H. Perkins, The Quarterly Review of Biology Merchant provides a valuable introduction to the topics and perspectives that characterize the discipline. -- Arn Keeling, H-Net Reviews

This volume, like others in the series, should prove to be welcome. Booklist Provides a useful summary of an important subject. American Reference Books Annual Essential for colleges, university, and large public libraries, and special libraries supporting U.S. history, ecology, geography, or environmentalism. Choice This is a one-volume resource not to be missed. It will be our primary reference work on American environmental history. -- John Opie Environmental History Merchant takes a most useful approach to environmental scholarship by encapsulating a daunting range of factual information and critical information into this practical volume... one of the best books of its kind. History [Carolyn Merchant] is eminently qualified to produce this fifth edition to The Columbia Guides to American History and Cultures series... there is a great deal to admire in this guide. Environment and History An impressive introduction to environmental history... Merchant has succeeded in producing an accessible first stop handbook that will be relied on for many years. Environmental Practice Merchant has been one of the most important scholars building the field of environmental history. Her excellent guide will be of use to new students in environmental history and to established scholars coming into the field from other areas. -- John H. Perkins The Quarterly Review of Biology Merchant provides a valuable introduction to the topics and perspectives that characterize the discipline. -- Arn Keeling H-Net Reviews 6/1/06

This volume, like others in the series, should prove to be welcome. Booklist Provides a useful summary of an important subject. American Reference Books Annual Essential for colleges, university, and large public libraries, and special libraries supporting U.S. history, ecology, geography, or environmentalism. Choice This is a one-volume resource not to be missed. It will be our primary reference work on American environmental history. -- John Opie Environmental History Merchant takes a most useful approach to environmental scholarship by encapsulating a daunting range of factual information and critical information into this practical volume... one of the best books of its kind. History [Carolyn Merchant] is eminently qualified to produce this fifth edition to The Columbia Guides to American History and Cultures series... there is a great deal to admire in this guide. Environment and History An impressive introduction to environmental history... Merchant has succeeded in producing an accessible first stop handbook that will be relied on for many years. Environmental Practice Merchant has been one of the most important scholars building the field of environmental history. Her excellent guide will be of use to new students in environmental history and to established scholars coming into the field from other areas. -- John H. Perkins The Quarterly Review of Biology Merchant provides a valuable introduction to the topics and perspectives that characterize the discipline. -- Arn Keeling H-Net Reviews

Author Information

Carolyn Merchant is the Chancellor's Professor of Environmental History, Philosophy, and Ethics at the University of California, Berkeley. She is the author of several books including The Death of Nature, Ecological Revolutions, and Earthcare, and is a past-president of the American Society for Environmental History.

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