I forgot where I saw this, but I think it was the Science Channel, but one of the downfalls of the Great Egyptian Empire was the change in Climate that occured in the area. At one time there was a lot more rainfall in Egypt and they could grow more crops, but the African Climate, especially in the North changed. It was not because of deforsestation or human based, it happened because of the change in the ocean currents at the time which happens all the time, . And the Sahara is growing ever since.

And if you want to go back to when the plants that produce the oil now, that would be a lot older than humans walked the Earth, back inthetime ofthe dinosaurs, when the whole Earth was alot warmer and more water vapor was in the air and there was less dry land to inhabit, and there was a lot more CO2 in the air at the tmie also for all the Climate hysteria cool aide drinkers.

And here something that will really get you thinking. The Moon is travelling away from us every year, and that has an effect on the tides and ocean currents.The Moon used to be a lot closer to the earth and the tides used to be a lot higherthan they are today.See, back when theEarth was forming another planet or huge asteroin hit the Earth and the debrit is what we see now as the moon, but it did not directly hit us, it it at an angle and was deflected and the rubble that was left consolidated into what is now the moon, but it is still moving away from us a few milimeters a years. And the Sun effecsthe climate also and is never constant, it flaresup and then flares down.

As Suek said they may have clear cut the forest, but in no way did it effect the Climate of the whole area. Maybe some local Climate changes, but you can not changetheClimate of a whole region by lcear cutting it. Just look at Easter Island, many believe now that something other than clear cutting is what destroyed the forests there. The people on the Island might have helped, but there was something other than just cuting down trees that did it.

You know…it almost makes you think that there might be changes in earth’s climate that have nothing to do with mankind…!

Look to what they are doing for biofuel down in Brazil for deforestation. They are taking down forests by the truckload to grow their precious biofuls, which will have a big impact on the climate of Brazil in the years to come, but it will not become a desert. There will be wastelands because of the ridulous notion of biofuels being farmed on less than fertile ground

I have to say that I remain unconvinced about your “rain forest” claim.

Trees growing along a river is not unusual. The Nile River and the land surrounding it is very fertile due to periodic (annual?) flooding and, of course, there is adequate water supply. That is why the Egyptians chose to settle there.

The Egyptians planted gardens and trees and had an extensive gardens around their homes which they irrigated. They were also an agrarian society. That too was made possible by irrigation.

The evidence I found, as well as what you have cited so far, remains insufficient to support your claim of an Egyptian rain forest.

Yeah they are a little vague, but that’s what I could find online. Any ancient forrest in Egypt would be buried under several feet of dirt or sand by now. They are still finding ancient cities there. So far the information was from the ancient Egyptians themselves rather than people out there digging for remains in the desert. They defiantly did live in a garden like atmosphere (even if they had to make the gardens themselves) rather than the dusty conditions of today.

I did find stuff on the deforestation of Africa followed by a drop in rainfall in the newly cut areas. From my understanding is the ground is nutrient poor. When the forrest is cut back, it won’t grow back and when several cubic miles are cut out each year the former area just turns into a wasteland (which turns into a dust bowl and eventually a desert). That’s why farmers have to keep cutting into the rain forests and not just sit on the land. After two or three years nothing will grow in the soil. Those going into the forests for illegal logging aren’t patient enough for the trees to grow back (if they can).

How many birds died to make that for him?

Being the fact-oriented knowledge-based person that I am I admit that I was intrigued by Gregory Dittman’s statement about Egypt having been a rain forest during the time of Moses.

(My spouse says that my head is full of useless knowledge. I disagree but that is another story.)

I had never heard of that before so I did some searching.

Unfortunately, I came up empty.

Here on the Net, that statement has been posted here and there but I found no sources upon which I could verify the claim.

Gregory, if you know of someplace that I can look please post the link(s).

Right now, I am not convinced.

While I agree to some extent that we need to work to preserve our forests, the Egypt argument isn’t working for me.

Sorry.