He focuses especially on north Texas with parting words about Oklahoma and a bear mention of Kansas. Beginning with a focus on the ecology, he develops the sense of constant interplay between people in the region and the ecology, especially the oaks through changes in maps of the region, in land use a Francaviglia reconstructs much of the history of the Cross Timbers Ecoregion from what can be known of the time of native peoples through European conquest and settlement nearly to the present day. Many historical and contemporary maps and photographs illustrate the text.moreįrancaviglia reconstructs much of the history of the Cross Timbers Ecoregion from what can be known of the time of native peoples through European conquest and settlement nearly to the present day.
He then traces the interaction of people and the landscape, from the earliest Native American inhabitants and European explorers to the developers and residents of today's ever-expanding cities and suburbs. Richard Francaviglia opens with a natural history that discusses the region's geography, geology, vegetation, and climate. This landmark book describes the natural environment of the Cross Timbers and interprets the role that people have played in transforming the region. Home to Native Americans over several thousand years, the Cross Timbers were considered a barrier to westward expansion in the nineteenth century, until roads and railroads opened up the region to farmers, ranchers, coal miners, and modern city developers, all of whom changed its character in far-reaching ways. Home to Native Americans over several thousand years, the Cross Timbers were considered a barrier to westward expansion in the nineteenth century, until roads and railroads opened up the A complex mosaic of post oak and blackjack oak forests interspersed with prairies, the Cross Timbers cover large portions of southeastern Kansas, eastern Oklahoma, and north central Texas. A complex mosaic of post oak and blackjack oak forests interspersed with prairies, the Cross Timbers cover large portions of southeastern Kansas, eastern Oklahoma, and north central Texas.