Pan's Travail: Environmental Problems of the Ancient Greeks and Romans

by J. Donald Hughes

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Summary

In Pan's Travail, J. Donald Hughes examines the environmental history of the classical period and argues that the decline of ancient civilizations resulted in part from exploitation of the natural world. Focusing on Greece and Rome, as well as areas subject to their influences, Hughes offers a detailed look at the impact of humans and their technologies on the ecology of the Mediterranean basin. He also compares the ancient world's environmental problems to those of other eras and discusses attitudes toward nature expressed in Greek and Latin literature. "A book on green issues is something new and Pan's Travails, moreover, is a compelling recital of man's mistreatment of the Mediterranean environment." -- Greece and Rome "Inclusive, accessible, and a valuable contribution to our understanding of the ancient environment." -- Donald Engels, University of Arkansas

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