Pan's Travail: Environmental Problems of the Ancient Greeks and Romans (Ancient Society and History) [Paperback]

J. Donald Hughes (Author)

Book Description

Series: Ancient Society and History | Publication Date: January 1, 1996

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A significant contribution to understanding the relationship between Classical Civilization in the Mediterranean Basin and its contemporary natural environment during the period from 800 B.C. to 600 A.D... Worthwhile and thought-provoking reading.

(Bryn Mawr Classical Review )

This backward glance at glorious civilizations—now vanished, in part, because they neglected the long-term limits of their growth—should serve as an object lesson to those who argue that goodwill and technical ingenuity alone can sustain societies indefinitely.

(Sciences )

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 )

About the Author

J. Donald Hughes is professor of history at the University of Denver. His books include Ecology in Ancient Civilizations and Ecological Consciousness.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press (January 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080185363X
• ISBN-13: 978-0801853630
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,129 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read, but the evidence falls short, November 2, 2007

By 

James Hatton (Kalispell, Montana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pan's Travail: Environmental Problems of the Ancient Greeks and Romans (Ancient Society and History) (Paperback)

The fall of the classical civilizations, particularly Rome, has engendered intense scholarly debate for centuries. In Pan's Travail, Hughes posits an answer that has seldom entered into the dialogue of historians: environmental degradation. Hughes' stance is unabashedly that of the environmentalist; readers will encounter the occasional diatribe against exploitation of natural resources and other social commentary. The book is intended for a general audience, and makes for a very interesting reading. Though the author depends too heavily on ancient texts for his evidence, he does make an excellent case for the general scope of Greco-Roman impact on their landscape. However, he fails to connect this impact with the actual collapse of those civilizations in a meaningful way. An interesting and informative read, but ultimately unconvincing.

11 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but somewhat flimsy, August 11, 2005

By 

Jasper L. Mcchesney (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pan's Travail: Environmental Problems of the Ancient Greeks and Romans (Ancient Society and History) (Paperback)

Pan's Travail covers an interesting topic and is reasonably thorough in looking at the different aspects of environmental problems in Classical times. It does have several problems of its own, though, albeit no fatal ones.

First, while Hughes surveys many different subjects, his examination of each is fairly superficial. He spends much time listing examples and not enough time synthesizing. The sources he cites are too often literary, and therefore of dubious accuracy--Hughes generally seems to accept the written word of the Romans and Greeks a little too readily. More archeological data would have helped. A lesser niggle is the frequent repetition in Hughes's writing, though it seems more a case of bad editing than anything else.

A more substantial stylistic and intellectual fault of the book is its clear ideological stance. That Hughes is an environmentalist of some stripe is obvious though not troubling in itself. However, his analyses come from only a single narrow perspective, viewing everything through the lens of, "people irresponsibly and imorally harming good Mother Nature." He does little to ask why Greeks and Romans may have acted as they did, except to cite greed and ignorance. As a result, Hughes fires off moral judgments rather easily and makes some strange out-of-left-field statements. For instance, in his conclusion, he writes, "...at this period, so little was known about how natural processes work that rationality was of little use."

Hughes' bias does not totally distort his presentation but doesn't make for a very even-handed analysis either. (I was actually surprised to read, on the back of the book, that he's a professor of history and not of conservation.) This may or may not deter you, but be forewarned. If numerous references to man's destructive greed and "Mother Earth" make you uncomfortable (even if you sympathize), you may want to steer clear.