This paper discusses the ecological problems created by the introduction of horses into the more temperate regions colonized by Europeans, especially among North American Indians.
Abstract This paper explains that the modern focus on successful Native-American equestrian cultures and the stereotype of the mounted Indian warrior obscures a deeper understanding of the often damaging impact of the arrival of horses on Native-American Indian culture and ecology. The author points out that the arrival of horses brought about a cultural transformation by allowing improvements in transportation, hunting, warfare and trade but disrupted the ecology of the bison and grassland, brought about social inequality and created disruptions in subsistence economies. The paper also relates that the native biology of all of the conquered temperate places (including humans) was not equipped to deal with European invaders: European diseases like smallpox decimated native populations, European weeds and agriculture brought large scale reductions in native flora and European animals (cattle, pigs and horses) squeezed out the native animals.
From the Paper "Horses, in particular, found their new homes rich in grazing lands, abundant with space, and relatively free of natural predators. Australia was populated with kangaroos, and the South American pampas with flightless birds: species that offered little danger to horses. Further, they did not have to compete, on a large scale, with existing animals for their niche. In the New World, horses from the old world found a welcoming ecological climate that was similar to that of Europe. Mountains, especially the Appalachian Mountains in the United States, provided large open grazing for horses, cattle, and other animals."
Abstract This paper examines causes and possible solutions to endangered animals. The author examines endangered animals from man's past and present interactions. The author seeks alternatives that will allow man to work with nature instead of against it.
From the Paper "On the surface, it appears that things are going quite well for mankind. Human beings are the masters of this domain and are unchallenged by any other being in nature. In the vast scheme of things, man has radically disrupted the instinctive orders of existence and natural selection and progression. Man has lost the capacity to foresee and to forestall. Man is becoming too ingenious for his own good. His approach to nature is to beat it into submission. Man would stand a better chance of survival if he would try to accommodate himself to the planet and view it appreciatively instead of skeptically and dictatorially. Man needs to realize he is a part of nature and therefore his war on nature is a war against himself. Man must start trying to work with nature instead of against nature."
Abstract This paper examines how, from the earliest of times, humankind has used words and symbols to display needs desires and necessities to both the gods and other humans and how, the prehistoric sketches of Paleolithic man and the current scrawls of modern man, while on the surface seem to be absolutely different, are inherently the same. In particular, it compares two works, a red and black bison on the ceiling at Altamira, Spain from 30,000 to 10,000 BC, and a terrier and tic-tac-toe board from the side of a building, New York City, late 1980s AD.
From the Paper "The composition of the painting, or lack thereof seems to be rather significant in prehistoric art. The lack of connection to the horizon, or anywhere else, denotes some type of religious meaning. Whether this entails simply a celebratory incantation for the fact that the animal lives to provide us with more food, or allows the magic in a shamanic spell to become more powerful against the animals, one has no knowledge. But the art of the caves does not appear to be simple art for art's sake. Christensen says, "It has been suggested that painting may have served as teaching material in which the spoken word, music, dance and masks were involved." (343) The time of Paleolithic man was wild and uncertain, but one could say the same about the current times."
