Changes in the Land : Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England

Rating:
Summary: An important piece of New England History
Review: What an outstanding work for what was essentially a one year graduate paper that accidentally became a book. This is not as thorough as what he would end up writing for his dissertation: Nature's Metropolis, but still an excellent work! Traces the natural history of New England and explores the difference between European and Native American relationships with the land and contrasts their concepts of "land ownership." This difference led to a significant amount of the conflicts between Europeans and Native Americans. The book discusses the process of the transforming the natural world to a series of commodities that largely shapes our current view of the natural world.

This book is an essential work in the understanding of New England, but does not tell the complete story. One should also look to Alfred Crosby's "Ecological Imperialism" for more of the story. Also Carolyn Merchant's "Ecological Revolution" is a must read if you are interested in this topic. Her book goes much deeper into exploring the inseparable role of human social dynamics in the natural history of New England. Be warned! Merchant's book is not for the casual reader or amateur historian. It is difficult reading and very complex social history. It is geared towards a graduate school audience. Reading Cronin's book first will likely make Merchant's book more understandable. One might also want to check out Theodore Steinberg's "Nature Incorporated" if you're really interested in New England's environmental history. This discusses water as a commodity, its industrialization and how this view came to pass. This is very informative, but not very exciting read. I once heard someone call it "the driest book on water ever written." This is not to say however that it is not worthwhile to someone really interested in the subject.


Rating:
Summary: Eco-History at its best
Review: What Cronon does with this book that is quite ground-breaking is to understand the events surrounding the arrival of colonists in the new world not in terms of colonists arriving in a pristine, untouched wilderness. Instead he carefully shows how the Native Americans had been shaping their environment quite significantly for hundreds of years before contact with europeans. He also shows how the idea of the commodity shaped the differences between "Western" and "Native" land use practices.
The book is immaculately researched and thouroughly footnoted. It is a must read for anyone interested in the history of New England or even just in how people interact with their eco-system in general.

Rating:
Summary: Read and learn
Review: What would it be like to live in North America before Columbus? You get an idea of how beautiful our country was before industry and population changed it all forever.

Rating:
Summary: Read and learn
Review: What would it be like to live in North America before Columbus? You get an idea of how beautiful our country was before industry and population changed it all forever.