Understand the Impact of Environmental History

Starting in the late nineteenth century, in direct response to the Industrial Revolution, forces in social and political spheres across the globe struggled to balance the good of the public and the planet against the economic exploitation of resources.

With the effects of climate change already upon us, the need has never been greater to understand the long history of human-environment interaction and responses to environmental issues. Discover the impact of colonialism, land use and exploitation, exploration, agriculture, industrial change and urbanization, pollution, and industries such as forestry and mining on the United States and regions worldwide into the late twentieth century. In Gale’s Environmental History series, researchers can explore unique primary sources that trace the evolution of land rights, resource usage, trade rules, and environmental protections that mark the beginning of the modern conservation movement.

Platform Features & Tools

Term Frequency

Researchers can see the frequency of search terms within sets of content to begin identifying central themes and assessing how individuals, places, events, and ideas interact and develop over time.

Topic Finder

By grouping commonly occurring themes, this tool reveals hidden connections within search terms—helping to shape research by integrating diverse content with relevant information.

Cross-Search Capability

Search across the materials of complementary primary source products, including books, in one united, intuitive environment, enabling innovative new research connections.

Learn more about the Gale Primary Sources Platform »

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