The climate is very temperate, meaning that is it never unbearably hot nor uncomfortably cold. People with jobs that require them to work outside, like farmers, are able to work year-round comfortably and grow different fruits and vegetables at different times of the year.
Additionally, the proximity to the Mediterranean Sea provides many opportunities for fishing. Fishing makes up a large part of both the Mediterranean diet and economy, as the sea provides food for people to eat and sell. Access to ports along the coast also helps cultures along the water trade and interact with other coastal cultures, as travel by boat is very common here.
Because of the reliance on the sea and the proximity of structures to the water, Mediterranean cultures are threatened by climate change. Rising sea levels threaten coastal communities as homes and entire villages can be swept out to sea. Additionally, hotter summers and drier winters associated with a changing climate could cause damage to the farming schedule and crops, affecting people who rely on successful crops for food and income.
People have lived near the Mediterranean Sea for many thousands of years and have adapted in a variety of ways. In a museum I visited recently located on the Mediterranean island of Sicily, I learned how Sicilian cultures have used the sea as a means of travel and cultural connection, trading art and goods with societies in North Africa and Southern Europe.
