ISBN: 9781155098104

University of Arizona Press. Paperback. New. Paperback. 288 pages. Dimensions: 8.8in. x 6.0in. x 0.6in.Threats to biodiversity, food shortages, urban sprawl . . . lessons for environmen… Plus…

University of Arizona Press. Paperback. New. Paperback. 288 pages. Dimensions: 8.8in. x 6.0in. x 0.6in.Threats to biodiversity, food shortages, urban sprawl . . . lessons for environmental problems that confront us today may well be found in the past. The archaeological record contains hundreds of situations in which societies developed long-term sustainable relationships with their environmentsand thousands in which the relationships were destructive. Charles Redman demonstrates that much can be learned from an improved understanding of peoples who, through seemingly rational decisions, degraded their environments and threatened their own survival. By discussing archaeological case studies from around the worldfrom the deforestation of the Mayan lowlands to soil erosion in ancient Greece to the almost total depletion of resources on Easter IslandRedman reveals the long-range coevolution of culture and environment and clearly shows the impact that ancient peoples had on their world. These case studies focus on four themes: habitat transformation and animal extinctions, agricultural practices, urban growth, and the forces that accompany complex society. They show that humankinds commitment to agriculture has had cultural consequences that have conditioned our perception of the environment and reveal that societies before European contact did not necessarily live the utopian existences that have been popularly supposed. Whereas most books on this topic tend to treat human societies as mere reactors to environmental stimuli, Redmans volume shows them to be active participants in complex and evolving ecological relationships. Human Impact on Ancient Environments demonstrates how archaeological research can provide unique insights into the nature of human stewardship of the Earth and can permanently alter the way we think about humans and the environment. This item ships from multiple locations. Your book may arrive from Roseburg,OR, La Vergne,TN, Momence,IL, Commerce,GA., University of Arizona Press, RareBooksClub. Paperback. New. This item is printed on demand. Paperback. 106 pages. Dimensions: 9.7in. x 7.4in. x 0.2in.This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1909 edition. Excerpt: . . . Carolinas natural resources are. Given in the order of what I consider their importance they are: 1. Soils and products of the soil, as forests, etc. 2. Water Powers. 3. Mineral products, including coals, etc. 4. Products of the sea. The development of the State is absolutely dependent upon these natural resources. Some of them are of much more importance than the others and some could perhaps be entirely destroyed (such as fish and oysters) without permanently checking the industrial advancement of the State; but its best advancement is dependent upon the conservation of them all. When we stop to consider that the population of this country is novf increasing about one-fifth of its total number each ten years, we begin to realize how many millions more of people must be fed and clothed from the products of our soil. By the middle of the present century, it is estimated that there will be about 150, 000, 000 in the United States. This increase is not confined to any one section of the country but there is a decided and steady increase in the population of all the States and Territories. In North Carolina there are now approximately 2, 250, 000 people but by the middle of this century this population will have increased to approximately 4, 600, 000. This large growth in population means a constantly increasing drain upon all our natural resources and it is, therefore, time that we as a State and as part of the greatest nation of the world, realize that our responsibility does not rest with providing for the present generation but that we must do our part towards providing for future generations by conserving and perpetuating for their use the great natural resources which we are now ourselves enjoying. The American people have been called the. . . This item ships from La Vergne,TN., RareBooksClub<