The Mediterranean region in its context -- The geological setting -- The Mediterranean climate and its evolution -- Vegetation -- The hydrological cycle of the basin and its watershed -- Erosion processes -- Fire -- The Mediterranean Sea -- Background to prehistoric and historic land use -- Traditional land-use patterns 1 : agriculture -- Traditional land-use patterns 2 : rural settlement -- Traditional land-use patterns 3 : urban settlement -- Traditional land-use patterns 4 : use of mineral resources -- The present human landscape -- Agricultural changes in the twentieth century -- The impact of depopulation -- Pollution -- Water resources -- The desertification problem -- Potential climatic change and its effects -- Key issues for mitigation
Summary
The Mediterranean has been subject to changing human settlement and land use patterns for millennia. This book reviews both physical and social aspects of this region, in relation to its environment
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 411-468) and index