Ecological Imperialism: The Biological Expansion of Europe, 900-1900

Ecological Imperialism was one of the first major texts on the topic of ecological history. As such, its scope is wide ranging; the book aims to explain in broad detail how ecological advantages allowed Europe to become the dominant force as globalization began. Since the time the book was published in 1982, that field has expanded, and nuanced research has been conducted about many of the topics covered in the book. New findings largely uphold the theories proposed in Ecological Imperialism, and the book is seen as an important foundational text within the field of ecological history. 

Despite Ecological Imperialism’s continued relevance, the book is very much of its time, and changes in world politics since its publication are important to note. Near the end of the book, Crosby analyzes the ways in which European dominance of agriculture continues into the present day. The volume and value of food produced by various countries is discussed, and Crosby comes to the conclusion that the Neo-Europes are the most important food producers worldwide. This is still largely true, but in Ecological Imperialism a large swath of Eastern Europe and Central Asia is considered non-European, as the USSR still existed at the time of the book’s publication. Soviet countries produced huge quantities of food, particularly wheat, and exported heavily to other countries.