Episode 067: John Ryan Fischer, An Environmental History of Early California & Hawaii

by Liz CovartFebruary 2, 2016

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Aside from nice weather, what do California and Hawaii have in common?

Spanish longhorn cattle.

Today, we explore how Spanish longhorn cattle influenced the early American and environmental histories of California and Hawaii with John Ryan Fischer, author of Cattle Colonialism: An Environmental History of the Conquest of California and Hawaii.

About the Show

Ben Franklin’s World is a podcast about early American history.

It is a show for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present-day world.

Each episode features a conversation with a historian who helps us shed light on important people and events in early American history.

Episode Summary

In this episode, we explore the early American histories of California and Hawaii with John Ryan Fischer, a Visiting Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and author of Cattle Colonialism: An Environmental Conquest of California and Hawaii.

During our exploration, Ryan reveals what environmental history is and what it can teach us about the past; Native American culture in both California and Hawaii before and after European contact; And, how both the landscapes and Native Americans in California and Hawaii responded to the introduction of Spanish longhorn cattle by Europeans.

What You’ll Discover

How Ryan became interested in the colonial history of California & Hawaii
The study of environmental history
The landscape of California
Native American life in California pre-European contact
The landscape of Hawaii
Native Hawaiian culture prior to European contact
What brought Europeans to California and Hawaii
Spanish and Russian claims to California
The animals Europeans brought to California and Hawaii
How European cattle altered Native American culture in California and Hawaii
How European cattle altered the landscapes of California and Hawaii
How Native Americans in California and Hawaii responded to the introduction of cattle
The rise and development of the California vaquero
How California vaquero culture influenced the development of Hawaiian paniolo culture
The hide & tallow trade and its development
The environmental impact of the hide & tallow trade
How California and Hawaii become states in the United States

'Port_of_Honolulu',_watercolor_and_graphite_on_paper_by_Louis_Choris — Louis Choris, The Port of Honolulu

Links to People, Places, and Publications

Time Warp Question

In your opinion, what might have happened if the environments in California and Hawaii had not been suitable for cattle? How would the lack of cattle have changed the history of these Pacific borderland regions?