Reclaiming Balance with Nature

The degradation of our planet is not a new phenomenon as it was seen in various practices of the Greeks and Romans. Even one of Aristotle's students noticed how deforestation affected regional weather. In analyzing the cause and effect of human actions, environmental destruction is understood to be a leading factor in the fall of civilization.

Canal in Venice

Hughs, the author of Environmental Problems of the Ancient Greeks and Romans, shares that during the Paleolithic period communities understood their place within the biotic community, extending care and respect to the life around them. However, as time went on, agriculture and economics ideals shifted, which changed the balance with Mother Earth. As her resources depleted, civilizations too, began to perish.  

Venice, like the rest of the Mediterranean, has its environmental problems. With the high amounts of tourism in this area, boats, which are the largest form of transportation here, create noise and air pollution. Trees would serve as a partial solution to absorb carbon, but trees are found few and far been here. Additionally,

Arsenal of Venice

at the Arsenal, we learned about project MOSE, which was created to minimize flooding in the city. However, these floodgates have the potential to turn Venice from a lagoon to a lake, changing the environment completely. It is evident that Venice is working against Mother Nature to find “solutions” to these environmental problems, which will eventually lead to their downfall.

Orvieto is also experiencing environmental problems from prior human actions. When we toured the women-run oil mill, our guide shared with us the biggest problems the olive oil industry is facing. Because of climate change, the younger olive trees need much more water to ensure they survival and the harvest season must begin earlier in the year. As climate changes worsens, so does all aspects of life, even the production of extra virgin. It is necessary to acknowledge the environmental damage of the Greeks and Romans, so we may attempt to rewrite history to fall back into the balance with nature.

Olive Oil Mill

These readings and tours have reminded me that the carrying capacity of lands around the world have limits, and until we understand this, life as we know it will continue to follow a dark, destructive path. We must continue to challenge our anthropocentric lens in which we view the world in order to live in harmony with our planet. 

Ciao for now! Alina