An Environmental History of the Civil..., Timothy Silver
An Environmental History of the Civil..., Timothy Silver
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An Environmental History of the Civil War

Author: Timothy Silver, Judkin Browning

Narrator: Joe Barrett

Unabridged: 8 hr 29 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 04/13/2020


Synopsis

This sweeping new history recognizes that the Civil War was not just a military conflict but also a moment of profound transformation in Americans' relationship to the natural world.

To be sure, environmental factors such as topography and weather powerfully shaped the outcomes of battles and campaigns, and the war could not have been fought without the horses, cattle, and other animals that were essential to both armies. But here Judkin Browning and Timothy Silver weave a far richer story, combining military and environmental history to forge a comprehensive new narrative of the war's significance and impact.

As they reveal, the conflict created a new disease environment by fostering the spread of microbes among vulnerable soldiers, civilians, and animals; led to large-scale modifications of the landscape across several states; sparked new thinking about the human relationship to the natural world; and demanded a reckoning with disability and death on an ecological scale. And as the guns fell silent, the change continued; Browning and Silver show how the war influenced the future of weather forecasting, veterinary medicine, the birth of the conservation movement, and the establishment of the first national parks.


About Timothy Silver

Timothy Silver is professor of environmental history at Appalachian State University and author of Mount Mitchell and the Black Mountains: An Environmental History of the Highest Peaks in Eastern America.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Connor on January 27, 2023

I thought this bought was very good. As someone who loves to learn about this Civil War I found this a very unique take on the Civil War. It was quite refreshing to learn about parts of the Civil War that are under-talked about but also very important.......more

Goodreads review by Abby Jane on March 28, 2021

I am absolutely floored by this book. Browning & Silver wrote an impressive volume that encompasses two main arguments: the Civil War was deeply impacted by environmental factors, and the war itself became a "biological event" that shaped America's environment. The book is organized chronologically,......more

Goodreads review by Danny on June 03, 2022

This succinct book examines how the environment impacted and was impacted by the Civil War. Whether that be the weather, the usage of animals, or the persistence of disease, this book does an excellent job explaining the "hard" science with the humanities. A worthwhile read for anyone interested in......more

Goodreads review by Thomas Brooks on February 24, 2023

At one point in Tolstoy's 'War and Peace' he argues for interpreting history by making use of integral calculus. I believe he was being ironic. The point was that you needed to break history down into it's smallest parts and follow it's flow. Of course, one can't do that - even today with supercompu......more

Goodreads review by Michael on June 13, 2021

I don't usually read books about the Civil War, but the title of this on the new books shelf at the public library was intriguing. (I am still getting used to being able to visit the public library branch again in person to peruse actual books.) The two co-authors looked at several different aspects......more