Anthropogenic arid plains of Asia Minor

An analysis is made of the interaction of the ancient anthropogenic activity with the natural environment of Asia Minor. The role played by the ancient cities and of the urbosphere created by them in the drastic change in vegetation cover, surface waters and the maritime coastal zone is shown. Evidence is provided for the prevailing contribution of anthropogenic transformations as against the climatic changes of the region of Asia Minor at the epoch of Classical Antiquity.