Changes in the environment and civilization in Turkey, Syria

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The results of pollen, diatom and geochemical analyses and radiocarbon dating of the soil samples taken from the lakes and marshes cleared the following new facts in the history of environment and civilizations in Turkey and Syria.1)The vast step composed of Chenopodiaceae and Artemisia expanded during the glacial period in Turkey and Syria.2)The lake level such as Lake Tuz during the glacial period was more than 20m higher than that of the present.3)The plant cultivation started in such kind of extensive grass land.4)The forest mainly composed of Quercus and Cedrus expanded after 10,000 years BP, indicating the climatic amelioration. The nitrogen and organic carbon contents in the lake deposit also increased.5)The olive cultivation began at 8000 years BP in the Ghave valley, northwest Syria. This evidence of the olive cultivation is the oldest record in the world.6)A major climatic change occurred at 5000 years BP. Cold and wet climate caused the big flood compared with Noah in the Old Testament.7)Lebanon cedar in the mountain of the northwest Syria was completely cleared until 4000 years BP.8)There was second major climatic changes at 3200 years BP. This climatic change gave the fatal blow to the decline of the Hittite Empire in Turkey.9)The soil erosion and deterioration which were accelerated by the forest destruction were also major factors of the decline of ancient civilizations in Turkey and Syria.10)The ancient harbors such as Miletos and Pliene were filled up by the alluvial deposits and the harbors were abandoned by the shift of river course of the Biyuku Menderes.11)It is cleared that rise and fall of the ancient civilizations in Turkey and Syria were suffered by the environmental changes such as climate changes and the natural environment, especially the forest, was severely destructed by the development of civilizations in Turkey and Syria.