The Mediterranean Environment and Society

by King, Russell; Proudfoot, Lindsay; Smith, Bernard

• ISBN13: 9780340652800
• ISBN10: 0340652802
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-08-15
• Publisher: Hodder Education Publishers

Summary

This book addresses contemporary geographical issues in the Mediterranean Basin from a perspective that recognizes the physical characteristics and cultural interactions which link the different Mediterranean states as a recognisable geographic entity. Sixteen chapters each deal with a majorgeographical issue currently facing the Mediterranean, each providing an invaluable summary of the extensive but widely dispersed literature relating to Mediterranean issues. Particular emphasis is placed on the interaction between society and environment in terms of environmental management,differential regional development and its associated political, demographic, cultural and economic tensions.

Author Biography

Russell King is Professor of Geography at the University of Sussex Lindsay Proudfoot is Reader in Historical Geography at the Queen's University of Belfast Bernard Smith is Reader in Geomorphology, at the Queen's University of Belfast

Table of Contents

List of Contributors	xi
Preface	xiii
Acknowledgements	xv
Introduction: An Essay on Mediterraneanism	1	(11)
Russell King
Aims and scope of the book	1	(1)
Definition of the Mediterranean	2	(4)
Mediterraneanism	6	(3)
Conclusion: unity and diversity in the modern Mediterranean	9	(1)
References	10	(2)
Geological Evoluation of the Mediterranean Basin	12	(18)
Alstair Ruffell
Introduction	12	(2)
Neotectonics	14	(3)
Ophiolites	17	(2)
The Tethyan Ocean	19	(3)
Geological structure and topography	22	(1)
The Messinian Salinity Crisis	23	(3)
The economic geology of the Mediterranean	26	(2)
References	28	(2)
Mediterranean Climate	30	(15)
Allen Perry
Introduction	30	(1)
The seasonal cycle of climate	31	(2)
Climate and two major economic activities	33	(3)
Floods and droughts: the price of climatic variability	36	(1)
Local winds	36	(2)
Temperature and precipitation trends during the period of instrumental record	38	(1)
The pre-instrumental climate record	39	(1)
The future Mediterranean climate	39	(3)
Conclusions	42	(1)
References	42	(3)
Earth Surface Processes in the Mediterranean	45	(12)
Helen Rendell
Introduction	45	(1)
Desertification and land degradation	46	(1)
Mass movements	46	(3)
Processes on hillslopes	49	(4)
Channel processes	53	(1)
Aeolian processes	54	(1)
Conclusions	54	(1)
References	55	(2)
The Graeco-Roman Mediterranean	57	(18)
Lindsay Proudfoot
Greece, Hellenism and Rome: towards a geography of the Mediterranean, ca. 800BC-395AD	58	(13)
The end of Empire	71	(1)
References	72	(3)
The Mediterranean in the Medieval and Renaissance World	75	(19)
Brain Graham
Context and themes	75	(2)
Ideology, conquest and social structure	77	(6)
Economy, trade and urbanisation in the medieval Mediterranean	83	(7)
Crisis and Renaissance	90	(2)
References	92	(2)
The Ottoman Mediterranean and its Transformation, ca. 1800--1920	94	(14)
Lindsay Proudfoot
The Ottoman Mediterranean, ca. 1800	96	(4)
Trajectories of change, ca. 1800-1920	100	(6)
The end of Empire	106	(1)
References	106	(2)
Politics and Society in the Mediterranean Basin	108	(18)
Nurit Kliot
Introduction	108	(1)
The historical development of the Mediterranean	108	(2)
Mediterranean unity	110	(3)
Diversity and division in the Mediterranean region	113	(3)
Unresolved conflicts	116	(7)
Conclusions	123	(1)
References	124	(2)
Mediterranean Economies: The Dynamics of Uneven Development	126	(29)
Michael Dunford
Introduction	126	(1)
The historical roots of the contemporary economics scene	126	(2)
Geographies of development and underdevelopment	128	(1)
Differentials in human development	129	(4)
Trends in the geographical distribution of wealth	133	(1)
Agrarian change and the countryside in the non-European Mediterranean	133	(7)
Mediterranean and Middle Eastern oil	140	(4)
Oil and development	144	(6)
The modernisation of southern Europe	150	(2)
Conclusions	152	(1)
References	153	(2)
The European Union's Mediterranean Policy: From Pragmatism to Partnership	155	(9)
Alun Jones
Introduction	155	(1)
The European Union's Mediterranean policy, 1957-72	155	(2)
The emergence of a `global' Mediterranean policy after 1972	157	(2)
European Union policy towards the Mediterranean region since the mid-1980s	159	(2)
The Barcelona conference on EU policy towards the Mediterranean	161	(1)
Conclusions	162	(1)
References	163	(1)
Population Growth: An Avoidable Crisis?	164	(17)
Russell King
Introduction	164	(1)
Population in history	165	(3)
A demographic reservoir for Europe	168	(2)
Current growth patterns: the Mediterranean as a demographic frontier	170	(4)
Is migration the solution to the crisis?	174	(4)
Conclusions: population and geopolitics in the Mediterranean	178	(1)
References	179	(2)
Five Narratives for the Mediterranean City	181	(13)
Lila Leontidou
Introduction	181	(1)
Eternal and ephemeral: city-states, colonies, capital cities	182	(2)
Urbanisation without industrialisation	184	(1)
Islamic and European cityscapes: informality, religion, gender	185	(3)
Diffuse industralisation beyond the Third Italy	188	(1)
Social forces in city building and spatial regulation	189	(2)
Conclusions	191	(1)
References	192	(2)
The Modernisation of Mediterranean Agriculture	194	(14)
Jeff Pratt
Don Funnell
Introduction	194	(3)
The transformation of agriculture	197	(1)
Rural modernisation in Southern Europe	198	(4)
Rural development in the Maghreb	202	(4)
Conclusions	206	(1)
References	207	(1)
Tourims and Uneven Development in the Mediterranean	208	(19)
Allan Williams
Introduction	208	(1)
The changing map of Mediterranean tourism	209	(5)
Mass tourism: social construction and polarisation	214	(4)
Footprints in the sand: the economic, environmental and cultural impacts of mass tourism	218	(6)
Conclusions	224	(1)
References	225	(2)
Water: A Critical Resource	227	(25)
Bernard Smith
Introduction	227	(2)
Water supply	229	(4)
Demand	233	(5)
Management of freshwater resources	238	(8)
Future prospects for water resources	246	(4)
References	250	(2)
Forests, Soils and the Threat of Desertification	252	(21)
Hazel Faulkner
Alan Hill
Introduction	252	(1)
Patterns of vegetation distribution	252	(1)
Native vegetation types	253	(2)
The influence of human activity on Mediterranean vegetation: anthropogenic influences	255	(3)
Global warming and Mediterranean vegetation: climatic influences	258	(2)
Mediterranean soils	260	(3)
Mediterranean soil degradation	263	(2)
Managing erosion	265	(3)
Fire: a particular Mediterranean hazard	268	(2)
Conclusions	270	(1)
References	270	(3)
Coastal Zone Management	273	(27)
George Dardis
Bernard Smith
Introduction	273	(1)
The Mediterranean Sea	273	(2)
The Mediterranean coastal margin	275	(5)
Coastal problems in the Mediterranean	280	(6)
Managing Mediterranean coastal problems	286	(9)
The `commons' problem in the Mediterranean	295	(2)
References	297	(3)
Conclusion: From the Past to the Future of the Mediterranean	300	(6)
Lindsay Proudfoot
Bernard Smith
Mediterranean identity revisited	300	(1)
A marginal place?	301	(1)
Resource shortage and environmental stress	302	(1)
From cultural diversity to contemporary geopolitics	303	(1)
The contradictions of development	304	(1)
References	305	(1)
Index	306