Ecological Imperialism: The Biological Expansion of Europe, 900-1900

Ecological Imperialism: The Biological Expansion of Europe, 900-1900

by Alfred W. Crosby
Ecological Imperialism: The Biological Expansion of Europe, 900-1900

Ecological Imperialism: The Biological Expansion of Europe, 900-1900

by Alfred W. Crosby

Paperback(Reprint)

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Overview

People of European descent form the bulk of the population in most of the temperate zones of the world - North America, Australia and New Zealand. The military successes of European imperialism are easy to explain; in many cases they were a matter of firearms against spears. But as Alfred W. Crosby maintains in this highly original and fascinating book, the Europeans' displacement and replacement of the native peoples in the temperate zones was more a matter of biology than of military conquest. European organisms had certain decisive advantages over their New World and Australian counterparts. The spread of European disease, flora and fauna went hand in hand with the growth of populations. Consequently, these imperialists became proprietors of the most important agricultural lands in the world. In the second edition, Crosby revisits his now classic work and again evaluates the global historical importance of European ecological expansion.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781107569874
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Publication date: 10/06/2015
Series: Canto Classics
Edition description: Reprint
Pages: 388
Sales rank: 481,248
Product dimensions: 5.43(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.71(d)

About the Author

Alfred W. Crosby is a Professor Emeritus in American Studies, History and Geography at the University of Texas, Austin, where he taught for over twenty years. His previous books include America's Forgotten Pandemic: The Influenza of 1918, 2nd edition (Cambridge, 2003), Throwing Fire: Projectile Technology through History (Cambridge, 2002), The Measure of Reality: Quantification and Western Society, 1250–1600 (Cambridge, 1997). The Measure of Reality was chosen by the Los Angeles Times as one of the 100 most important books of 1997.

Table of Contents

1. Prologue; 2. Pangaea revisited, the Neolithic reconsidered; 3. The Norse and the Crusaders; 4. The Fortunate Isles; 5. Winds; 6. Within reach, beyond grasp; 7. Weeds; 8. Animals; 9. Ills; 10. New Zealand; 11. Explanations; 12. Conclusion.
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