Quote Originally Posted by Subedei
Just a question: Ain´t it true that a big part of nowadays North Africa was very "green" [bushes, trees, other green staff] before men came and went "TIMBER!" all the way to construct boats and buildings?
True. North Africa, around Carthage and Numidia, was a very nice place. (Current day Tunisia isn't a desert though, it's a "mediterranean" climate.) The "Africa" province was one of Rome's three grain baskets. When Carthage fell to the Vandals, Rome quickly made peace and resumed trade because the city of Rome was at risk of famine.

Syria used to be a thick pine forest too (early bronze age).