The Unending Frontier: An Environmental History of the Early Modern World (California World History Library)

California World History Library

by John F. Richards

It was the age of exploration, the age of empire and conquest, and human beings were extending their reach―and their numbers―as never before. In the process, they were intervening in the world's natural environment in equally unprecedented and dramatic ways. A sweeping work of environmental history, The Unending Frontier offers a truly global perspective on the profound impact of humanity on the natural world in the early modern period.

John F. Richards identifies four broadly shared historical processes that speeded environmental change from roughly 1500 to 1800 intensified human land use along settlement frontiers; biological invasions; commercial hunting of wildlife; and problems of energy scarcity. The Unending Frontier considers each of these trends in a series of case studies, sometimes of a particular place, such as Tokugawa Japan and early modern England and China, sometimes of a particular activity, such as the fur trade in North America and Russia, cod fishing in the North Atlantic, and whaling in the Arctic. Throughout, Richards shows how humans―whether clearing forests or draining wetlands, transporting bacteria, insects, and livestock; hunting species to extinction, or reshaping landscapes―altered the material well-being of the natural world along with their own.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World History, Environment, Economics, Grad School

696 pages, Paperback

First published January 19, 2003

Reviews

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to seeing the history of the early modern period from a new view point. Particularly interesting how Tokugawa Japan turned its back on the outside world and restricted its consumption to better conserve its natural landscapes and forests. A great starting point for anyone who is interested in the combination of history and the environment. Complements J McNeill's Something New Under the Sun which is an environmental history of the 20th century and equally good.

[Jindřich Zapletal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book with a truly grand plan. I wonder if the author really has what it takes to follow up that grand plan with equally grand and insightful research in each case. The reader must have a broad and deep understanding of the early modern era of world history to enjoy the book.

The book consists of a number of interesting case studies. They are really uneven in their execution though. The chapter on Tokugawa Japan can serve as a useful vantage point for that period; the chapter on early modern Great Britain is planned as a contrasting point (conservation of resources vs. expansion), but it has a completely different format and focus. Some chapters include an extensive introduction into the political/military history (the Dutch golden age case), others do not (the Russian case). The Mughal chapter, the only one where the author is within his specialty, is quite weak owing to the lack of primary information, but it is the first case study in the book, nonetheless. I liked the chapters on Newfoundland fishing and Atlantic arctic whaling in particular; in most chapters I found something new and something to like. Still, the book leaves quite a lot to be desired.

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important work of global environmental history of impressive scope. Argues that the centralization of states and pushing into frontiers, both contiguous and across oceans, drove resource use, exploitation, and ecological change. Rising populations forced expansion and greater resource, particularly energy, usage. Some states/societies made better choices and/or had better luck than others. Lots of very interesting facts and nuggets of information in this book.

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was assigned for an Environmental History class. It gave a broad sweep of the world and how resources were used. It provides a picture of what happens when we see an resource as inexhaustible. History proves over and over from trees to whales there is no such thing as inexhaustible resources.

[Mega · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking at how humans shaped the world is interesting, but how does the environment shape us.
A lot of world history can be determined on geography such as why Coal shaped England and how clearing the jungles shaped Bangladesh.

[Hal]

Recommended in Piketty

[C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the lack of theoretical or historiographical ramifications, it still provides amazing insight into how various groups around the world in frontiers interacted and used nature.

[Karen E Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love environmental history, and I quite enjoyed this book. It is a bit long, and I don't know if any non-historians would want to read it. But I learned a lot. The sections on the world hunt were particularly interesting to me, as was the section on Tokugawa Japan.