The Nature of Empire: Modern Imperialism and the Roots of the Anthropocene

The Nature of Empire exposes the central role of modern imperialism in the development of contemporary environmentalism and environmental science. It builds this case through an investigation of five major modern empires: Britain, France, Russia, the Ottoman Empire, and Japan. This book offers readers a global environmental history of modern imperialism that actively engages Western-based and non-Western based empires. As this study shows, imperialism ultimately transformed human perceptions of nature and the environment in significant, lasting, and conflicting ways. It both inspired modern conservationist practices and fueled opposition to environmental policies in colonial contexts. It also spurred the development of climate science, which helped reveal the environmental toll of imperial exploitation and drive efforts to fight it. The environmental and political legacies of empire remain evident today through unmitigated anthropogenic climate change and the increasing incidence of extreme weather, which tends to disproportionately impact marginalized peoples. This book stands as a useful and accessible resource for students, scholars, and all those seeking to better understand environmental history, imperial legacies, and the roots of contemporary climate challenges.