Environment and Society in Roman North Africa: Studies in History and ArchaeologyThe impact of a changing environment on human society and, conversely, the impact of man's activities upon the environment are important and contentious subjects today. Climatic and environmental change have also been credited with bringing about major shifts in human history. One such case is that of the decline of Roman North Africa and its conquest by the Arabs. The evidence for this process is, however, far from clear-cut, and Professor Shaw's concern in these studies is firstly to re-examine what is known, from both archaeological and written sources, and how it has been interpreted, work which has led to some substantial revisions of accepted accounts. In the final three articles he turns to analyse how Roman society functioned on the edge of the desert and, in particular, to investigate the careful exploitation and control of critical water resources. |
Contents
Preface viiix | 581 |
INTERPRETATION AND EVIDENCE | 587 |
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT | 621 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
agricultural ancient animal antiquity appear aqua aqueducts archaeology arid Camel century channels climatic colonial concerned construction dams depended DESPOIS direct distribution Dromedary early economic Empire environment evidence example existence exploitation fact factors farming function given GSELL Horse humid hydraulic important indicate inscription irrigation Italy known l'Afrique Lamasba land latter levels literary Maghrib Matmata means Mediterranean monumental nature Neolithic Nord North Africa noted once original Paris period plains plots possible practice precisely present probably problem produce question range recorded references region remains reports result Roman rural Sahara scala schemes seems settlements simply social SOCIETY species spring survey techniques terraces town trees units urban valleys wadi walls whole zone