World Historical Geography

JAIME MORENO-TEJADA taught World Regional Geography at Missouri State in its China campus for seven years. He holds a PhD in Historical Geography from King’s College London and has published widely on frontiers, environmental history, and spatial theory. His research brings together geographic methods and historical inquiry to explore patterns of human movement, place-making, and power.

• List of Maps xiPreface xiiIntroduction 1Chapter 1: Sub- Saharan Africa 7What Is Sub- Saharan Africa? 7Beginnings 9The Human Journey Across Tropical Africa 16Dryland Kingdoms 18Ethiopia and East Africa 22The European Input 26Sub- Saharan Africa in the Anthropocene 28References 30Global Themes1.1 Disease 101.2 Climate 131.3 Globalizations 23Chapter 2: North Africa and Southwest Asia 35What Is North Africa and Southwest Asia? 35The Early Levant 39The Great Rivers 43The Ancient Eastern Mediterranean 47The Arab World 50North Africa and Southwest Asia in the Anthropocene 54References 56Global Themes2.1 Deserts 362.2 Domestications 412.3 The 4.2 ka event 45Chapter 3: Europe 61What Is Europe? 61The Earliest Europeans 63Southern Europe 68Northern Europe 73Europe in the Anthropocene 76References 80Global Themes3.1 Hunting and gathering 673.2 Anthropogenic landscapes 703.3 Smoke pollution 77Chapter 4: The Russian Domain 85What Is the Russian Domain? 85Eastern Europe and the Steppe 87The Russian Core 92The Russian Periphery: Siberia 95The Russian Periphery: The Caucasus 99The Russian Domain in the Anthropocene 100References 104Global Themes4.1 Grasslands 894.2 Cold climates 974.3 The birth of the oil industry 101Chapter 5: Central Asia 109What Is Central Asia? 109The Nomads’ Territory 111Northwest China and the Silk Road 113Iranians and Turks, Arabs and Mongols 119Central Asia in the Anthropocene 124References 128Global Themes5.1 Pastoralists 1145.2 Languages 1205.3 Irrigation 126Chapter 6: East Asia 133What Is East Asia? 133China’s First Core: The Yellow River 135China’s Second Core: The Yangzi River 139The Northeast 144East Asia in the Anthropocene 149References 151Global Themes6.1 Erosion 1376.2 Transportation 1426.3 Volcanoes 148Chapter 7: South Asia 155What Is South Asia? 155The Indus Valley 157The Ganges Valley 159Peninsular India 161South Asia’s Second Millennium 165South Asia in the Anthropocene 167References 174Global Themes7.1 Religions 1637.2 Famine 1687.3 The Demographic Transition 170Chapter 8: Southeast Asia 177What Is Southeast Asia? 177The Mainland: Foundations 179The Mainland: The Mandala Kingdoms 183Insular Southeast Asia 188Southeast Asia in the Anthropocene 193References 195Global Themes8.1 Swidden cultivation 1818.2 Slaveries 1868.3 Cities 190Chapter 9: Australia and Oceania 199What Is Australia and Oceania? 199Sahul (Australia and New Guinea) 202Ancient Oceania 207Modern Pacific Geographies 210Australia and Oceania in the Anthropocene 212References 216Global Themes9.1 Islands 2009.2 Geographies 2059.3 Anthropology 213Chapter 10: North America 221What Is North America? 221Prehistoric Geographies 223Horses and Cattle: The Mexican Pattern 231Private Land: The US Pattern 234North America in the Anthropocene 239References 241Global Themes10.1 Archaeology 22510.2 The Little Ice Age 22910.3 Frontiers 238Chapter 11: Latin America 247What Is Latin America? 247Origins 249Geographies of Social Complexity 252Colonial Encounters 257Latin America in the Anthropocene 262References 263Global Themes11.1 Rivers 25011.2 Highlands and hills 25611.3 The potato and its impact 259Chapter 12: The Caribbean 269What Is the Caribbean? 269The Archaic Caribbean 271Colonial Geographies: 1500– 1650 275Colonial Geographies: 1650– 1850 279The Caribbean in the Anthropocene 284References 286Global Themes12.1 Winds 27112.2 Paleogenetics 27712.3 Diaspora 283Conclusion 289Index 292