I am interested in understanding how ancient peoples modified their environments both before and after the advent of agriculture, up until industrial age. How did hunting and gathering societies alter landscapes, compared to the impacts seen with the transition to agricultural practices? What evidence do we have of these changes, and how do they compare in scale and nature to the environmental transformations we see in modern times? Are there particular case studies or archaeological findings that highlight these human-induced environmental shifts? Please provide peer-reviewed references when possible.
Regards
Talha Kemal Koçak There are too many examples to put them in one answer. just few:
deforestation - Ancient Greece, Middle Asia (goat-eaten hillsides)
desertification - soil erosion in Sakhara (>5000 years ago)
irrigation and drainage of swamps - Mesopotamia, Ancient China, Ancient Central Asia (destroyed by Mongols at 13 century)
Dear Talha Kemal Koçak , I will add popular article about this issue. Alex Ignatov has already mentioned some of environmental impacts.
Unearthing the Environmental Impact of Ancient Societies
"The environmental impact of ancient societies can be seen in a variety of ways, including:
- Deforestation: The clearing of forests for agriculture, construction, and fuel production was a common practice in many ancient civilizations, often leading to long-term changes in the local landscape.
- Soil Degradation: Intensive farming, overgrazing, and unsustainable land management practices contributed to the depletion and erosion of once-fertile soils.
- Water Management: The construction of elaborate irrigation systems, dams, and canals altered the natural flow of water, impacting local ecosystems.
- Resource Extraction: Mining, quarrying, and the exploitation of natural resources, such as timber and minerals, left lasting marks on the environment..."
https://thelostkingdoms.com/unearthing-the-environmental-impact-of-ancient-societies/
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