Driven by capitalism, the European colonist conquer the entire continent. Their actions have cross-scalar implications, leading to a destruction of the patchwork ecosystem that had characterized pre-colonial America. utilizing the same lenses as the previous maps, the dangers of positive feedback loops become evident. Individuals must be aware of the power their actions have. Cumulative actions can spiral outward, across scales, transforming entire continents, leading to unsustainable systems (Cronon, 2003).

Sources

Cronon, William. Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists and the Ecology of New England. Hill and Wang, 2003.