The Earth as Modified by Human Action

The Earth as Modified by Human Action Synopsis

George Perkins Marsh is often considered America's first environmentalist. Perkins was a diplomat, author, and philologist, and far ahead of his time in terms of his views on the environment. Man and Nature, or Physical Geography as Modified by Human Action presents readers with the opportunity to read the words of the father of the environmental movement in the United States.

The book begins with an introduction that presents ancient Rome as a case study for the importance of conservationism. Marsh uses a variety of sources to paint a picture of Rome as an area ripe with natural resources that were over utilized and eventually destroyed by man's actions. The second chapter discusses the effects of transferring and modifying vegetable and animal species, and argues for organic life as vital to environmental sustainability. The book goes on to examine specific ecosystems, and the impacts man has had on them, including forests, bodies of water, and deserts. March concludes his work with a discussion of projected and possible changes to geography that man has caused, and the potential impacts of these changes.

Marsh was clearly well ahead of his time in terms of his environmental attitudes. Man and Nature is a plea to readers to recognize the value of our natural landscapes and to ensure their protection. His words are every bit as poignant today as they were when they were written.

Man and Nature, or Physical Geography as Modified by Human Action is a seminal text of the conservationist movement. It is a must read for any modern environmentalist, and a sad reminder that the issues facing man today have gone unresolved for nearly two centuries. This is an important work and one that deserves to be read by a wide audience.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

About This Edition