Chapter ID: CBB001422307

What Kind of Environmental History for Antiquity? (2013)

unapi

Environmental scientists, climatologists, and archaeologists, together with historians economic and otherwise, have recently been converging on a number of major issues in the environmental history of the late Holocene period. This chapter recalls the distinction usefully stressed by Horden and Purcell between history in the Mediterranean and the history of the Mediterranean. As for climate change, `the scientific study of the ancient climate has barely begun' which means that this is an inopportune time for anything like environmental determinism. When we talk about the historical effects of climate change, it is essential that we consider both alternative explanations and the likely effects on human beings-and these particular human beings-of climate instability, aridification, and changes such as short and long periods of decreased or increased temperatures, and of decreased or increased precipitation. Many questions about the environmental history of antiquity seem ripe for scientist-humanist collaboration.

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Authors & Contributors
Harris, William V.
Cashin, Joan E.
Labuhn, Inga
Josh England
Kouki, Paula
Manning, Sturt
Concepts
Environmental history
Climate and climatology
Environmental degradation
Archaeology
Ecology
Climate change
Time Periods
Ancient
Medieval
21st century
20th century, late
20th century
Modern
Places
Mediterranean region
Rome (Italy)
United States
Italy
Europe
Middle and Near East
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