US EditionAncient Greeks and Romans Recognized Human Climate Impact
Ancient thinkers linked environmental harm to climate shifts, noting effects on agriculture and health, with some leaders acting to reduce pollution and protect communities.
- Since at least the fourth century BC, ancient Greeks and Romans recognised that climate changes over time and passed down observations of such shifts.
- In accounts from Theophrastus and others, authors cited agricultural decline and longer winters while linking draining lakes and diverting rivers to shifts in Larisa in Thessaly, Aenos and Philippi.
- Pliny the Elder and others described polluted rivers and air harming life, with Galen noting unsafe fish from the Tiber River and sewage and rubbish as main pollution sources; Roman emperor Nerva led urban cleanups.
- Writers warned such damage would harm people and society, as ancient authors treated environmental protection as a serious concern despite linking climate change less than modern views.
- These writings offer historical context for today’s debates, as ancient writings document climate shifts while Columella and Saserna did not blame human activity.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Compound climate events and their role in the decay of Greece’s cultural heritage - Scientific Reports
The decay of porous materials in archaeological and built heritage is often accelerated by compound climate events, such as frost, salt crystallization, and prolonged rainfall. These processes threaten the definition of architectural surfaces, structural integrity and thus the heritage values of monuments built with porous inorganic materials. This study investigates the spatial and temporal distribution of these decay-inducing events across Gre…
The Conversation
Ancient Greeks and Romans knew harming the environment could change the climate
Universal History Archive / Contributor/GettyHumans have known about, thought about and worried about climate change for millennia. Since at least the fourth century BC, the ancient Greeks and Romans recognised that the climate changes over time and that human activity can cause it. They worried deeply about the impact it would have on us as individuals, and on broader society. The earliest mention of climate change? Greek writer Theophrastus of…
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