Part I
Environmental damage:
Deforestation-
During the Roman Empire deforestation was a big problem for them. They had to use wood for everything. They used the wood in many ways one way they used it was to build their building. They had to build many houses and royal palaces. The wood was also being used for ship building. The wood was also used not just for building things but also for heating people’s homes and keeping them warm in the winter. The wood was used in industry like brick making to heat the bricks and for smelting silver. The forests were cleared for farming and further got rid of the forests. They also just burned them down for wars so the enemies couldn't hide. As the result of all of these things the soil losses its ability to grow crops properly so Rome had to rely on North Africa for food and this caused riots when food was late. The moving of industries also hurt the government because the industries diminished the government money then weakening the state. As the neighboring states became more powerful and caused the fall of Rome.
Deforestation-
During the Roman Empire deforestation was a big problem for them. They had to use wood for everything. They used the wood in many ways one way they used it was to build their building. They had to build many houses and royal palaces. The wood was also being used for ship building. The wood was also used not just for building things but also for heating people’s homes and keeping them warm in the winter. The wood was used in industry like brick making to heat the bricks and for smelting silver. The forests were cleared for farming and further got rid of the forests. They also just burned them down for wars so the enemies couldn't hide. As the result of all of these things the soil losses its ability to grow crops properly so Rome had to rely on North Africa for food and this caused riots when food was late. The moving of industries also hurt the government because the industries diminished the government money then weakening the state. As the neighboring states became more powerful and caused the fall of Rome.
A forest with most of the trees cut down
http://news.bbc.co.uk/dna/ptop/plain/A2184473
Desertification-
Desertification effected many places and civilizations near deserts and caused them to move or rely on other ways of getting food. Desertification can be caused in many different ways. A drought could come over the land and cause the ground to dry and eventually becoming sand and expanding the desert. Another way that can cause desertification is by overgrazing. The animals live off the grass and eventually don’t let the ground regain its nutrients and won’t be able to grow grass or plants and then erode to become sand. The result of desertification is that people are then forced to move somewhere there is food or rely on another place to get its food. The importation of food and moving causes a weakening on the state which makes it more likely be overthrown and conquered the rich land owners get all the profit from these land and the work force is usually slaves.
http://books.google.com/books?id=acbWdynlU3cC&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=desertification+in+ancient+civilizations&source=bl&ots=5kNzqI2jv0&sig=3_rSwS22Dbd3uTHguWpdusdC7Jc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=utwOU8KSC6fX2AXZuYCQDg&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=desertification%20in%20ancient%20civilizations&f=false
http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/geography/nile.htm
http://www.earthonlinemedia.com/ebooks/tpe_3e/images/lithosphere/eolian/desertification_africa_fao_11638.jpg
http://news.bbc.co.uk/dna/ptop/plain/A2184473
Desertification-
Desertification effected many places and civilizations near deserts and caused them to move or rely on other ways of getting food. Desertification can be caused in many different ways. A drought could come over the land and cause the ground to dry and eventually becoming sand and expanding the desert. Another way that can cause desertification is by overgrazing. The animals live off the grass and eventually don’t let the ground regain its nutrients and won’t be able to grow grass or plants and then erode to become sand. The result of desertification is that people are then forced to move somewhere there is food or rely on another place to get its food. The importation of food and moving causes a weakening on the state which makes it more likely be overthrown and conquered the rich land owners get all the profit from these land and the work force is usually slaves.
http://books.google.com/books?id=acbWdynlU3cC&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=desertification+in+ancient+civilizations&source=bl&ots=5kNzqI2jv0&sig=3_rSwS22Dbd3uTHguWpdusdC7Jc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=utwOU8KSC6fX2AXZuYCQDg&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=desertification%20in%20ancient%20civilizations&f=false
http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/geography/nile.htm
http://www.earthonlinemedia.com/ebooks/tpe_3e/images/lithosphere/eolian/desertification_africa_fao_11638.jpg
A piece of land that is being converted into a desert
Jonathan Morales
Pd 5
Soil Erosion-
In Ancient Rome wide spread deforestation occurred which lead to a loss of topsoil. With no vegetation to hold the soil it blew away in many parts of Italy. This gave a devastating blow to a declining empire that came to get most of its food from North Africa.
Jonathan Morales
Pd 5
Soil Erosion-
In Ancient Rome wide spread deforestation occurred which lead to a loss of topsoil. With no vegetation to hold the soil it blew away in many parts of Italy. This gave a devastating blow to a declining empire that came to get most of its food from North Africa.
Drawing depicting the soil erosion and deforestation of Rome.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/dna/ptop/plain/A2184473
Silted Rivers-
Ephesus was a thriving river that was destroyed by a silted river. The town was a port town but the deposits carried by the Cayster River caused the port to move progressively seaward. This led to the harbor being six miles away and the towns peoples moving.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/dna/ptop/plain/A2184473
Silted Rivers-
Ephesus was a thriving river that was destroyed by a silted river. The town was a port town but the deposits carried by the Cayster River caused the port to move progressively seaward. This led to the harbor being six miles away and the towns peoples moving.