The historical interactions between Americans and the natural environment from before European exploration and settlement until the present. The course particularly focuses on how nature has shaped human history, how humans have transformed the natural world, and how ideas about nature have changed over time.

The history of Americans' interaction with the environment, from the Ice Age to the present day. Topics include native and colonial American land use, the rise of industrial capitalism, nature and the Civil War, Progressive conservation, and the postwar environmental movement.