Key Concept 2: The Development of States and Empires (I)

Deforestation A new theory suggests that environmental damage, particularly deforestation led to the fall of the Roman Empire. Probably the most obvious cause for deforestation was because of the need for wood for buildings. Wood was the primary choice in construction from houses, to buildings and even ships. Wood was also a necessity for heating. Nearly all heating was done by wood. As empires grow the population skyrockets. The enormous populations need farms to supply food for the empire so large amounts of the forest were leveled to make land for farms. The affects of deforestation were factors in the fall of Rome. The widespread loss of topsoil in Italy caused a loss in vegetation. Industries were forced to move every few years because of the loss of trees in the area. By them moving they were able to make a better profit.

Construction of wood bridge

wooden house

Forest cleared for Farms

http://news.bbc.co.uk/dna/ptop/plain/A2184473 http://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A2184473 http://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-and-environment/greeks-and-romans-zmaz80mjzraw.aspx

Desertification Desertification was actually a factor for helping the Egyptian civilization to begin. For thousands of years prehistoric nomadic peoples roamed the Sahara Desert, following the rains. They waited for the rain to bring grass which plants would grow from. When the landscape dried up the nomadic people started to settle along the Nile. This was huge because the Nomadic people went from hunting/gathering people to being able to farm for themselves in one location. The Nile valley soon gained cattle after they were domesticated and continued to grow until a civilization was born.

Key Concept 2: The Development of States and Empires (I)

Nomads began settling

The beginning of farming

The Sahara

https://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200706/desertification.and.civilization.htm http://dearkitty1.wordpress.com/2006/07/22/africa-how-desertification-of-sahara-gave-rise-toegyptian-civilization/

Soil erosion The civilizations that continued to produce new soil continued to thrive while the civilizations that had the threat of soil eroding had to rebuild. Soil erosion and deforestation are thought to have a direct connection with the fall of the Mayan civilization. Over time soil erosion lead to lack of farming. Without the proper farming needed to feed a growing civilization the population decreases. The struggle continued with several civilizations until eventually they were not capable of producing enough food and the civilization collapsed. In just few decades its believed the world lost a third of its total topsoil.

Mayans farming

Crops drying out

People began to die/leave

http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=13876 http://www.limnogeology.ethz.ch/AnselmettiGeology.pdf

Key Concept 2: The Development of States and Empires (I)

Silted Rivers The Mesopotamian civilization collapsed due to silt in its rivers. Civilizations depend on irrigation for their crops which then feeds them. The Mesopotamians relied on rivers for their irrigation. The rivers flooded the plains and silt would travel within the crops. When the water evaporated all the silt would remain. Minerals and salts eventually turned the soil toxic. The People could no longer use the soil for their crops which slowly made them starve.

Silted river bed

Irrigation system

Before silt

http://www.learner.org/interactives/collapse/mesopotamia.html http://karenswhimsy.com/ancient-mesopotamia.shtm