The Mediterranean region in its context -- The geological setting -- The Mediterranean climate and its evolution -- Vegetation -- The hydrological cycle of the basin and its watershed -- Erosion processes -- Fire -- The Mediterranean Sea -- Background to prehistoric and historic land use -- Traditional land-use patterns 1 : agriculture -- Traditional land-use patterns 2 : rural settlement -- Traditional land-use patterns 3 : urban settlement -- Traditional land-use patterns 4 : use of mineral resources -- The present human landscape -- Agricultural changes in the twentieth century -- The impact of depopulation -- Pollution -- Water resources -- The desertification problem -- Potential climatic change and its effects -- Key issues for mitigation.