Lost Cities of the Sahara

University of Leicester ^ | July 26, 2000 | Barbara Whiteman

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

It could work even better offshore — a sort of cell structure, like a beehive

I've seen quite a few of those while perusing Google earth.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6A_qNAQCGU

Sole Survivor is on youtube, there’s part one, the rest are there as well.

[ken in texas]

Why, it was those evil, ancient SUV’s, of course. Don’t you know ANYTHING?

I think if you check your history you'll find it was the SUC, or Sport Utility Camel. Lots of uncontrolled methane emissions.

[tbw2]

It wasn’t jungle like. However, it may not have been as dry and dead as it is today. The Sahel is losing its lakes and dying of “desertification” from over-grazing by goats and sheep. These cities may have been on the edge of dry grassland in their time before their livestock destroyed the grasses, causing the areas to dry up.

[worst-case scenario]

Actually, we were told that modern urban civilizations, in addition to natural phenomena, can effect climate change on a large scale.

We already knew that pre-modern civilizations can effect climate change. Diamond’s “Collapse” gives a great explanation of what occurred on Easter Island as it was gradually deforested.

Cape Verde Island is another great example of man-made climate (in this case, micro-climate) change. Named “Cape Verde” by European explorers because it was so lush and verdant, the island was deforested over 200 years of intense habitation. Rain clouds had formerly been “caught” by the forests as they moved out from the African continent. With the trees gone, the clouds just passed right over without dropping precipitation.

Today Cape Verde is dry, dusty, impoverished. We’ve known for centuries that men can effect the climate, just as natural phenomena can.

[worst-case scenario]

“They were depicted by Roman sources as ungovernable nomadic barbarians.”

Well, it’s pretty obvious that the Garamantes could by governed by themselves. It’s the *Romans* that they weren’t interested in being governed by.

Of course, the Romans wrote the history books after the Garamantes were gone, so they could depict them in any way they wanted. That’s usually the way it works: empires always depict the people that fight back as “barbarians,” “uncivilized,” “pagans,” “primitive.” That why I love Herodotus. He reports these civilizations as an anthropologist would, without judgment. It makes for much more informative reading.

[colorado tanker]

This thread is an interesting mix of ancient and modern history. Thanks, guys.

[SunkenCiv]

Yup, Herodotus had no axes to grind, unlike his ancient-world critics and the mob of misinformed and/or Muzzies out there. He traveled in Egypt as well as in the Persian empire, and preserved an invaluable corpus of testimony that would otherwise have been lost. The example I usually cite is his discussion of why the Nile floods out of season. He lists three that he heard, including the real reason, which he notes is the least likely of all, then offers a fourth of his own that’s unintentionally hilarious. :’) That’s a good example of his honesty, something often lacking in historians then and now.

[SunkenCiv]

:’) We have a sixth sands about what FReepers will like.

[abb]

Back when I was younger and seemed to have time to read fiction, I read several books by this author. His stuff is set in South Africa.

As I recall, some rip-roaring stuff.

http://www.wilbursmithbooks.com/home/index.html

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks bert, that’s interesting.

[SunkenCiv]

That works, provided there are non-brackish wells. :’)

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks abb.