Nature's metropolis

Nature's Metropolis is an ecological history that examines the rapid growth of Chicago and its impact on the Great West during the late 19th century.

Cronon argues that the distinction between city and country is an illusion, and that these areas are interdependent.

The book focuses on commodity flows, transportation systems, and the human modification of the environment, which Cronon terms 'second nature.

' It explores how Chicago's growth was fueled by its position as a hub for trade in grain, lumber, meat, and other products, and how this growth affected the surrounding regions.