Trees and Timber in the Ancient Mediterranean World (Oxford University Press Academ) [Hardcover]

Russell Meiggs (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0198148402 | ISBN-13: 978-0198148401 | Publication Date: April 14, 1983

This is the first comprehensive study of timber supply and demand in the Near East and the world of ancient Greece and Rome. Drawing from a wide range of literary, epigraphic, and archaeological sources, Meiggs traces changing patterns in their historical setting, and examines the timber requirements of fleets and armies, building, agriculture, and sculpture and furniture. He also draws a tentative outline of the structure of the timber trade, with special emphasis on transport, and determines that the part played by Greece and Rome in deforestation has been greatly exaggerated.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Russell Meiggs is at Balliol College, Oxford.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 598 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (April 14, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198148402
• ISBN-13: 978-0198148401
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,477,973 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rare Find, October 31, 2000

By 

ed jenkinson (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trees and Timber in the Ancient Mediterranean World (Oxford University Press Academ) (Hardcover)

This book is MARVELOUS! It is almost the only book on Ancient Tree usage, it is the only one I know of, but his bibliography gives a few books that I've not seen nor read. THis book covers all the ancient Mediterranean world, from Lebannon to Cyprus to Greece. He actually wrote this book over a span of nearly 40 or so years, so it is very well written. Obviously not the sort of book that everyone may think is interesting, but it is and it is because Mr. Meiggs is a very good writer as well as scholar. If you can get ahold of this book it is worth the read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BACK WITH A BARK, December 15, 2004

By 

John Stahle (New York City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Trees and Timber in the Ancient Mediterranean World (Oxford University Press Academ) (Hardcover)

What happened to the Cedars of Lebanon? Long out of print, and now priced not to move, Meiggs' "Trees and Timber" is virtually the only book about deforestation in the cradle of western history. Thankfully, it is also a memorable read. Meiggs fingers a surprising villain: the nineteenth century. Most historic stands of trees survived quite nicely until then, simply because they were inaccessible. Railroads doomed much that was green. Calabrian peasants sold their entire forest patrimony to large German companies that cleared everything to the last twig. Then their goats moved in, munching every new shoot and blocking reforestation--to this day. And the famous cedars? The only stand of significance is protected by Maronite Christian monks; otherwise, forget them too. Anyone concerned about deforestation must read this book.