Homosapien Homosapien Development Development

During most of their 60,000-year During most of their 60,000-year existence, humans were hunter-gatherers. existence, humans were hunter-gatherers. Their environmental impact was limited Their environmental impact was limited and local and local MobileMobile Small tribes familiesSmall tribes families Covered large areas.Covered large areas. SustainableSustainable Higher quality of lifeHigher quality of life Advanced medical knowledgeAdvanced medical knowledge

agricultural revolutionagricultural revolution The agricultural revolution began 10,000 The agricultural revolution began 10,000

to 12,000 years ago. to 12,000 years ago. Early growers relied on slash-and-burn Early growers relied on slash-and-burn

cultivation and shifting cultivation, which had a cultivation and shifting cultivation, which had a low environmental impact. low environmental impact.

More advanced agriculture has increased food More advanced agriculture has increased food supplies supplies

Rotating cropsRotating crops Beans-add nutrients-Corn takes nutrientsBeans-add nutrients-Corn takes nutrients

IrrigationIrrigation Animal HusbandryAnimal Husbandry

Selection of docile animals Selection of docile animals

slash-and-burn cultivationslash-and-burn cultivation

Cutting down trees and other vegetation in a Cutting down trees and other vegetation in a patch of forest, leaving the cut vegetation on patch of forest, leaving the cut vegetation on the ground to dry, and then burning it. the ground to dry, and then burning it.

The ashes that are left add nutrients to the The ashes that are left add nutrients to the nutrient-poor soils found in most tropical forest nutrient-poor soils found in most tropical forest areas. Crops are planted between tree stumps. areas. Crops are planted between tree stumps.

Plots must be abandoned after a few years Plots must be abandoned after a few years (typically 2&endash;5 years) because of loss of (typically 2&endash;5 years) because of loss of soil fertility or invasion of vegetation from the soil fertility or invasion of vegetation from the

The abandoned plot cannot successfully grow The abandoned plot cannot successfully grow crops for 10-30 yearscrops for 10-30 years

Agriculture-raising foodAgriculture-raising food ProsPros

More peopleMore people Know what you are going to eatKnow what you are going to eat You don’t have to moveYou don’t have to move Cities, Technology, Art, CommerceCities, Technology, Art, Commerce IrrigationIrrigation

ConsCons Susceptible to the environmentSusceptible to the environment Class and race inequalityClass and race inequality Decreased knowledge of medicineDecreased knowledge of medicine Greater infant mortalityGreater infant mortality

shifting cultivationshifting cultivation

Clearing a plot of ground in a forest, Clearing a plot of ground in a forest, especially in tropical areas, and planting especially in tropical areas, and planting crops on it for a few years (typically 2-5 crops on it for a few years (typically 2-5 years) until the soil is depleted of nutrients years) until the soil is depleted of nutrients or the plot has been invaded by a dense or the plot has been invaded by a dense growth of vegetation from the surrounding growth of vegetation from the surrounding forest. forest.

Then a new plot is cleared and the process Then a new plot is cleared and the process is repeated. is repeated.

The abandoned plot cannot successfully The abandoned plot cannot successfully grow crops for 10-30 yearsgrow crops for 10-30 years

The industrial-medical revolution The industrial-medical revolution began in England in the mid-1700s began in England in the mid-1700s and spread to the United States in and spread to the United States in the 1800s. the 1800s.

industrial-medical revolutionindustrial-medical revolution

Use of new sources of energy from Use of new sources of energy from fossil fuels and later from nuclear fossil fuels and later from nuclear fuels, and use of new technologies, fuels, and use of new technologies, to grow food and manufacture to grow food and manufacture productsproducts

We are currently in the midst of a We are currently in the midst of a new cultural shift, the information new cultural shift, the information and globalization revolution. and globalization revolution.

information and globalization information and globalization revolutionrevolution

Use of new technologies such as the Use of new technologies such as the telephone, radio, television, telephone, radio, television, computers, the Internet, automated computers, the Internet, automated databases, and remote sensing databases, and remote sensing satellites to enable people to have satellites to enable people to have increasingly rapid access to much increasingly rapid access to much more information on a global scalemore information on a global scale

The Early Conservation Era (1832-The Early Conservation Era (1832-1960) 1960)

Gifford Pinchot 1900 –Natural lands Gifford Pinchot 1900 –Natural lands may have many uses.may have many uses.

Aldo Leopold-1900-The natural lands Aldo Leopold-1900-The natural lands need to stay natural.need to stay natural.

Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt's term of office Theodore Roosevelt's term of office

has been called the country's has been called the country's "Golden Age of Conservation." He "Golden Age of Conservation." He established the first National Wildlife established the first National Wildlife Refuge, created the National Forest Refuge, created the National Forest Service, and used the 1906 Service, and used the 1906 Antiquities Act to protect the Grand Antiquities Act to protect the Grand Canyon and other areas that later Canyon and other areas that later became National Parks. became National Parks.

FDR-1930sFDR-1930s New deal. New deal.

Created parks to generate jobs.Created parks to generate jobs.

Environmental History of the Environmental History of the United States: The United States: The

Environmental Era (1960-2004)Environmental Era (1960-2004)

Silent SpringSilent Spring In 1962, Rachel Carson published In 1962, Rachel Carson published

Silent Spring,Silent Spring, which contributed to which contributed to the beginning of the modern the beginning of the modern environmental movement. The 1960s environmental movement. The 1960s saw an increased awareness of the saw an increased awareness of the science of ecology.science of ecology.

NixonNixon The first annual Earth Day was held The first annual Earth Day was held

in 1970, the same year that in 1970, the same year that Richard Nixon established the Richard Nixon established the

Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency 1970 . 1970 .

Nixon also supported the passage of Nixon also supported the passage of the Endangered Species Act of 1973.the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

CarterCarter Jimmy Carter (president 1977-1981) Jimmy Carter (president 1977-1981)

created a Department of Energy and created a Department of Energy and a Superfund to clean up hazardous a Superfund to clean up hazardous waste.waste.

Reagan/Bush 1 Reagan/Bush 1 The administrations of Ronald The administrations of Ronald

Reagan and George Bush, Sr. allowed Reagan and George Bush, Sr. allowed some environmental laws to be some environmental laws to be undercut and supported exploitation undercut and supported exploitation of resources on public lands.of resources on public lands.

ClintonClinton During Bill Clinton's administration During Bill Clinton's administration

(1993-2001), environmentalists were (1993-2001), environmentalists were appointed to key positionsappointed to key positions

Al Gore 2006Al Gore 2006 Created a movie about global Created a movie about global

warming-Has as strong effect on the warming-Has as strong effect on the population as silent spring.population as silent spring.