Unlike any other book dealing with native agriculture in North America, this book takes a geographical stance, focusing on fields, field features, and field systems. Emphasis is placed on modifications of the biophysical environment, specifically vegetation, soil, slope, and hydrology. Nearly 200 maps, drawings, and photographs richly illustrate the complexities of aboriginal American food production.

This book provides a grounded analysis of globalization and urban change in the late 20th century. Drawing on multi-locale field work, Olds examines the role of two elite transnational cultures--ethnic chinese property developers and modernist architects--in the planning and development of Pacific Rim mega-projects.

Cultivated Landscapes of Native Amazonia and the Andes examines Indian agriculture in South America. The focus is on field types and field technologies, including agricultural landforms such as terraces, canals, and drained fields, which have persisted for hundreds of years. What emerges is a picture of mostly successful indigenous farming practices in difficult environments--rain forests, savannahs, swamps, rugged mountains, and deserts.