Date of Graduation
12-2019
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in History (PhD)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
History
Advisor/Mentor
Jeannie Whayne
Committee Member
Daniel Sutherland
Second Committee Member
Elliott West
Keywords
Arkansas, Arkansas River, Environmental History, floods, human culture, natural disasters
Abstract
The Arkansas River molded the history of Arkansas. It also shaped human to human interactions and human relationships with the physical environment. Since humans first encountered the river their lives have been influenced by it. The river played a significant role in creating the environmental conditions that contributed to a specific existence within the river valley. It affected what types of flora and fauna existed, the quality of the soil, and the climate. The river was a vital component in the evolution of the cultures and societies that developed in the river valley. Conversely, humans affected the river. The ways humans perceived and used the river impacted the physical characteristics that defined the river. Ever since the first humans interacted with the river there has been a dialectic relationship put into motion, a cycle of constant change where humans and the environment renegotiated their understandings and relationship with one another. Throughout every time period of Arkansas history, prehistoric through the 1970s and on, the river has been a vital factor in the existence of the river valley and state.
Citation
Andrus, E. N. (2019). The River Gave and the River Hath Taken Away: How the Arkansas River Shaped the Course of Arkansas History. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/3536