Forests all over the world have been converted into pastures for animals and fields for crops. Photo credit Corel Photo Clipart CD.
|
| After the decline of Sumer, the Mediterranean island of Crete became a trading power and prosperous civilization due largely to the presence of its forests. The wood was shipped to other places in the Near East in boats made from local timber. The forests of Crete also provided fuel for working bronze and making pottery. But by 1500-1450 B.C. the forests had been heavily cut and local builders were forced to use as little wood as possible. The size and quality of the shipping fleet also declined. | When Crete declined as a power, it was taken over by the Mycenaeans, who still had extensive forests of their own. But as the Mycenaean population increased, more and more of those forests were converted to agricultural uses, especially pasture for grazing sheep. Woodcutters had to go further and further inland and potteries had to be relocated to more remote forested areas. Eventually, with timber supplies scarce and expensive, the Mycenaean population dwindled, and people were forced to pursue a more subsistence-level existence. |
humans and forests: B.C. -- page 2 of 6
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
sub-topic
[humans & forests: A.D.]
related topics
[wood & forest products] [threats to forests]
view the condensed version of the humans & forests: B.C. article for faster printing/reading
return to the forests through time article