The Natural World in the Roman Empire

[Ludovicus]

Aurouchs (giant wild cows) in Britain, lions in Anatolia, and a North African species of elephant. What was the natural world of the Roman Empire like? What has that area lost?

[Kosmo]

There were far more wild areas like forests, swamps etc.

For example Romania was heavily forested and the wildlife comprised animals that became extinct by the time of the modern age like aurochs, bison, wild horses, saiga antelopes, beavers etc

In such a marginal area the ecological impact of the empire was minimal.

[The Roadie]

There were far more wild areas like forests, swamps etc.

For example Romania was heavily forested and the wildlife comprised animals that became extinct by the time of the modern age like aurochs, bison, wild horses, saiga antelopes, beavers etc

In such a marginal area the ecological impact of the empire was minimal.

 

Greece, Italy, Africa and Egypt were regions heavily affected by human cultivation, to the extent that production almost became industrial in terms of organisation. Most likely, the dull Mediterranean environment, with its many tree-less islands, brown coastlines and unproductive areas are a direct result from environmental overexploitation during Antiquity.

 

Since the Romans and other peoples in the Empire used wooden plows, the north-western parts of the Empire were spared more intense cultivation due to lower soil productivity there. The weight of the European population lived alongside the Mediterranean shores until five hundred years past the fall of Rome, following the invention of the iron plow which brought the population centre to the Low Countries, France and Normandy.

[Kosmo]

Greece, Italy, Africa and Egypt were regions heavily affected by human cultivation, to the extent that production almost became industrial in terms of organisation. Most likely, the dull Mediterranean environment, with its many tree-less islands, brown coastlines and unproductive areas are a direct result from environmental overexploitation during Antiquity.

 

This is a bold statement.

The Mediterranean landscapes are determined by geography (lots of mountains, little plains) and climate (hot and dry) and romans did not change any of these two. Deforestation and land degradation could have made things worse but pastoral cultures are often worse then agricultural ones at this aspect.

[The Roadie]

Greece, Italy, Africa and Egypt were regions heavily affected by human cultivation, to the extent that production almost became industrial in terms of organisation. Most likely, the dull Mediterranean environment, with its many tree-less islands, brown coastlines and unproductive areas are a direct result from environmental overexploitation during Antiquity.

 

This is a bold statement.

The Mediterranean landscapes are determined by geography (lots of mountains, little plains) and climate (hot and dry) and romans did not change any of these two. Deforestation and land degradation could have made things worse but pastoral cultures are often worse then agricultural ones at this aspect.

 

The fact obviously is that the Mediterranean world during Antiquity had enough economic capacity to support more "advanced" civilisations than beyond the Carpathians and the Alps, while the reverse is true for the early modern and industrial ages. It is also true that most of Iraq and the Levant during the copper and bronze ages consisted of forests. When you cut down wood in dry areas, it will take a long time before forests could root down again.

 

One thing which is disturbing me with for example modern Greece is their way of treating what little environment they got. There is an island there which is one of the few islands where the African chameleon still is living. Chameleons are very sensitive and could actually die out of stress. The authorities have blown up several five stars hotels around the chameleon reservation, and the owners of these hotels do not inform their guests about not disturbing the chameleons, as they themselves are quite willing to sacrifice the reservation in order to build a golf field. Moreover, the lights of the hotels are disturbing the poor lizards.

 

There are rangers, but they almost work on a voluntary basis, and are often harassed by egg thieves and common tourists who do not know better. When money and profitability is involved, the interests of an endangered species often come at second hand. Yet, no one could deny that it is a tragedy which is occurring on these islands. Greece and similar countries should work to restore the conditions which existed during early Antiquity, instead of further destroying their environment by setting up mass consumption-based hotels and golf courses.

[caldrail]

In such a marginal area the ecological impact of the empire was minimal.

 

That's hardly the case. A late empire writer moans that there are no more wild beasts to be had for the arena. "No more lions in Thessalay" for instance. He admires them, he's fascinated by them, but the empires psychological need to demonstrate mastery over nature means that their only real value is slaughter for public entertainment. In fact, the decline of arena combat can be partially linked to the ever increasing costs of putting on spectaculars. With smaller displays (and the gladiator fights had long ceased to be displays of skill) the public were losing interest.

 

The demand for animals had been a huge enterprise in the centuries leading up to this shortage and somelegions even boasted professional hunters who earned income on the side by trapping beasts. One legion in Germania was especially proud of its 'ursarii, or bear hunters. Marginal areas recovered to some degree because animals spread into the depopulated areas afterward, but in most places, the levels of animal population had suffered.