Ancient Ephesus was a thriving maritime city, but its rapid decline was caused by overuse of nature and the resulting ecosystem changes. This example suggests that harmony with nature is an important factor in determining the sustainability of a civilization.
There are examples of disastrous uses of nature from the earliest days of human history. Humans have used nature to advance civilization, but sometimes they have underestimated its power or used it in the wrong way, leading to unforeseen disasters. The Mediterranean coast was once home to many civilizations, including the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. The region’s fertile soil and mild climate allowed agriculture and maritime trade to flourish, which in turn paved the way for the development of cities and the blossoming of civilizations. But looking at the Mediterranean coast today, it’s doubtful that it was ever home to the greatest civilizations of the time. The Mediterranean landscape has undergone many changes over time, and as a result, many cities have declined or disappeared. Ephesus was a famous maritime city that flourished during the time when Rome was building its vast empire. Ephesus is a great example of its prosperity, with Roman-era architecture and ruins still visible throughout the city, giving a hint of its grandeur. Today, however, only remnants of the huge amphitheater, marble columns, and fine sculptures are scattered throughout the ruined city. It begs the question of how a city that thrived on the bounty of nature could be so devastated. How did Ephesus fall so quickly, and what caused it?
The reasons are still unclear, but it’s thought to have been due to changes in the ecosystem. Scholars who study the rise and fall of ancient cities emphasize the close relationship between the natural environment and human activity, and use the case of Ephesus as an example. The changes in the ecosystem can be seen by examining the flora that flourished at the time. The pollen of plants is preserved in the strata for a very long time because it doesn’t decay very well. Therefore, analyzing the pollen found in the strata can reveal not only the flora and climate of the time, but also the form of agriculture and society. These studies provide important clues to understanding the causes of the fall of ancient cities. Pollen analysis of soil from Ephesus shows that the strata from 2,000 years ago, when Ephesus was most prosperous, were dominated by wheat pollen. This suggests that field farming centered on wheat was prevalent. Wheat was the staple food of the people at that time, and the agricultural activities to grow it largely dictated the city’s economy and social structure. In the older strata, we found a lot of pollen from plantain, which is found in pastures. In strata dating from 4,000 years ago, when the city was uninhabited, large amounts of pollen from oak trees were found. This tells us that the environment in Ephesus changed from woodland to grassland to agriculture. In other words, as people gathered, agricultural areas expanded and forests gradually shrank.
Forests play a very important role in the water cycle. Dense forests can store a lot of water due to the presence of fallen leaves and topsoil. This water evaporates and becomes clouds, which then turn into rain and return to the forest. These natural cycles are closely interconnected, and any change in one can have a cascading effect on the others. In Ephesus, however, as civilization flourished, these forests dwindled, disrupting the water cycle and reducing rainfall. As the climate dried out and the land became more and more parched, Ephesus suffered one famine after another, and the roots of its once-abundant civilization began to falter. Furthermore, as the topsoil of the bare mountains was washed away by the rains and the sea gradually filled in, Ephesus’ trade ceased and it lost its function as a maritime city. Eventually, the people left, leaving the city in ruins.
This story has an important lesson for us today. There is a price to pay for over-exploiting nature. History has repeatedly warned us against the arrogance of thinking we can conquer nature. For sustainable development, we need to find ways to live in harmony with nature, otherwise stories like Ephesus will repeat themselves.
