Significance of Chance in Crosby’s Ecological Imperialism

Date: September 18th 2012

During the biological expansion of Europe between 900-1900, humans have served as effective vehicles in the dispersion of biota both deliberately and accidently. An accidental chance can be defined as an event or incident that is both unpredictable and unexpected, which in relation to this study refers to the spread of people, plants, and animals across the world. Crosby devotes several chapters in explanation of weeds, humans, and animals. Selective evidence amongst the readings justifies how significant chance, or accident, is in Crosby’s account of the spread of people, plants, and animals.
Crosby’s chapter dedicated to weeds defines the term in modern botanical use as “any plant that spreads rapidly and outcompetes others on disturbed soil” [Alfred Crosby, Ecological Imperialism (Cambridge University Press, 1986), 149]. Crosby reasons that weeds aren’t necessarily good or bad, however they are the plants that botanist use terms as aggressive. A vast majority of the weeds introduced by the Europeans were accidental, as Crosby suggests it as an unintentional imperial victory. Crosby suggests multiple views on how chance led to the spread of weeds throughout the lands, proposing that European horses may have even accidently picked up biota and dragged it across the land (Ecological Imperialism, 156). Weeds were drawn to repair topsoil which in turn provided food and redistribution of stability; According to Crosby, since weeds deal with ecological stability, they were drawn to “thrive on radical change, that supports the reason for the triumph of European weeds in the Neo-Europe’s” (Ecological Imperialism, 170). It may be considered luck, coincidence, or chance that weeds shadowed the movements of European populations, as it is believed that the spread of biota was not deliberate in many cases.
It appears evident that in all circumstances by which the Europeans “discovered” America that their endeavors were unintentional, moreover accidental. According to most historians the Norse, or ‘Vikings’, where the first Europeans to arrive in Canada. Between the 9th and 12th centuries, Vikings held a mass commercial Empire in Europe; the tale of Erik the Red suggests his discovery of Greenland, which plays a major role in the accidental discovery of America (Ecological Imperialism, 43-7). Bjarni Herjolfsson whom departed for Greenland was thrown off course where he found himself on the coast of North America, whom returned to share his discovery. After hearing this tale, Red’s son Leif Erikson was intrigued, following his path that directed him to discover “Helluland”, Markland, and Vinland. It is evident that first attempt to establish a permanent colony in America was accidental. 300 Years later, in an attempt to locate a secret passage to Asia, Giovanni de Verrazzano sailed to what is believed to be Florida. From this we may determine that America was a discovery in attempt to find a passage to China, as Europeans were interested in the wealth of Asia [Richard N. Mack, et al., "Biotic Invasions: Causes, Epidemiology, Global Consequences, & Control," Ecological Society of America, vol. 10, number 3 (2000), 689-710]. It was years later after Jacques Cartier, that Cabot discovered this “secret passage”, called the Gulf of the Saint Lawrence; inevitably it is resolutely apparent that America was a mere coincidental discovery during the expedition to uncover a new route to Asia.
The reason similar species are found in Europe and America is due to many reasons, most importantly the hypothetical continental split known as Pangaea, which caused “the decentralization of the process of evolution” (Crosby, Ecological Imperialism, 11-12). Additionally, when Europeans arrived in the 1500’s they brought with them houses, domesticated pets, farm animals, varmints, etc. Crosby’s thesis suggests that Europeans were progressive imperialists due to their biological advantage, which includes their both accidental and deliberate dispersal of plants and animals. Furthermore it is undeniable that many species were delivered to the new world deliberately, however, some unintentional biotic invading species established a means of spreading and adapting to their new environments. As made evident by Crosby throughout his chapter devoted to animals, many vermin, pests, and parasites where not deliberately introduced.
When the Europeans arrived in the Americas in the 1500s they brought with them farm animals, pests, insects, germs, diseases, and technology. Crosby’s Ecological Imperialism claims that the victories over the Amerindians were “in large part the triumphs of biological advantage” (200). Furthermore, it is determined that the significance of chance is eminent during the European domination of ecology and culture, as their efforts may be considered prosperous through biological coincidence rather than planned execution. The discovery of America may be one of the most fundamentally significant events in history, as the European biotic invaders served as both accidental and deliberate instruments of human progress.