Environmental History Zuck EE2

Environmental History “The history of humanity’s relationships to the environment provides many important lessons that can help us deal with today’s environmental problems and not repeat past mistakes.” -G. Miller

Major human cultural changes _________ years ago → hunter-gatherers 10,000-12,000 years ago → agricultural revolution 275 years ago → ___________________ 50 years ago → information and globalization revolution

Cultural changes have Given us much more energy and new technologies with which to alter and control more of the planet to meet our basic needs and _________________.

Cultural changes have: Allowed expansion of the human population, mostly because of increased _________________ and longer life spans.

Cultural changes have: Increased our environmental impact because of increased resource use, pollution, and _________________ _________________.

Tribal Era Up to early 1600s

Hunter-gatherers 60,000 year existence Collecting edible wild plant parts, hunting, fishing, and scavenging for meat Worked together to get enough food to survive Many were ________ Expert knowledge and understanding of their natural surroundings.

Hunter-gatherer discoveries Which plants and animals could be eaten and used as medicines. Where to find water. How plant availability changed throughout the year. How some game animals migrated to _________________.

Hunter-gatherers Had very little impact on their environment and local ecosystems. Were part of the ecosystem, just like other animals and plants. Did not try to control the environment. They learned to _____________.

Advanced hunter-gatherers Had a ___________ impact on the environment.

Advanced hunter-gatherers Used more advanced tools and fire to convert forests into _______________.

Advanced hunter-gatherers Contributed to the ____________ of some large animals. ◦E.g. mastodon, sabor-toothed tiger, giant sloth, cave bear, mammoth, and giant bison.

Advanced hunter-gatherers Altered the distribution of plants and animals feeding on such plants as they carried seeds and ______________ ______________.

Early and advanced hunter- gatherers Exploited their environment, but _______________ ______________.

Limited impact _________________ _________________ Low resource use per person Migration; allowed natural processes to repair most of the damage Lack of technology that could have expanded impact.

Tribal Era North America occupied by 5-10 million tribal people. Until European settlers arrived in early 1600’s. Native Americans were ______________.

Tribal Era Native Americans Deep respect for the land and animals Did not believe in ______________. Burned and cleared fields, planted crops.

Frontier Era