Floods, famines, and emperors: El Niño and the fate of civilizations

In 1997 and early 1998, one of the most powerful El Niños ever recorded disrupted weather patterns all over the world. Europe suffered through a record freeze as the American West was hit with massive floods and snowstorms; in the western Pacific, meanwhile, some island nations literally went bone dry and had to have water flown in on transport planes.Such effects are not new: climatologists now know the El Niño and other climate anomalies have been disrupting weather patterns throughout history. But until recently, no one had asked how this new understanding of the global weather system related to archaeology and history. Droughts, floods, heat and cold put stress on cultures and force them to adapt. What determines whether they adapt successfully? How do these climate stresses affect a people's faith in the foundations of their society and the legitimacy of their rulers? How vulnerable is our own society to climate change?In this dazzlingly original new book, archaeologist Brian Fagan shows that short-term climate shifts have been a major—and hitherto unrecognized—force in history. El Niño-driven droughts have brought on the collapse of dynasties in Egypt; El Niño monsoon failures have caused historic famines in India; and El Niño floods have destroyed whole civilizations in Peru. Other short-term climate changes may have caused the mysterious abandonment of the Anasazi dwellings in the American Southwest and the collapse of the ancient Maya empire, as well as changed the course of European history.This beautifully written, groundbreaking book opens a new door on our understanding of historical events. This Volume Examines The Social Effects Of El Niño And Other Powerful Weather Phenomena. The Author Provides Examples Of How Cultures Have Adapted To Stressful Weather And The Ways In Which Climatic Alterations Have Changed The Course Of History. From Droughts In Ancient Egypt To Monsoons In India, The Far-reaching Effects Of Meteorology's Tantrums Have Deeply Affected The Way Humans Live In The World. He Explains El Niños Discovery And Includes Useful Maps And Diagrams And Simple And Historical Treatments Of Topics Such As Monsoons, Enso, And The North Atlantic Oscillation. In This Dazzlingly Original New Book, Archaeologist Brian Fagan Shows That Short-term Climate Shifts Have Been A Major--and Hitherto Unrecogonized--force In History. El Nino-driven Droughts Have Brought On The Collapse Of Dynasties In Egypt; El Nino Monsoon Failures Have Caused Historic Famines In India; And El Nino Floods Have Destroyed Whole Civilizations In Peru. Other Short-term Climate Changes May Have Caused The Mysterious Abandonment Of The Anasizi Dwellings Of The American Southwest And The Collapse Of The Ancient Maya Empire, As Well As Changed The Course Of European History. [pt. 1:] The Christmas Child. The Great Visitation -- Guano Happens -- Enso -- The North Atlantic Oscillation -- [pt. 2:] El Niños In Antiquity. A Time Of Warming -- Pharaohs In Crisis -- The Moche Lords -- The Classic Maya Collapse -- The Ancient Ones -- [pt. 3:] Climate Change And The Stream Of Time. The Little Ice Age -- Drought Follows The Plow -- El Niños That Shook The World -- The Fate Of Civilizations. Brian Fagan. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 261-275) And Index. In 1997 and early 1998, one of the most powerful El Ninos ever recorded disrupted weather patterns all over the world. Europe suffered through a record freeze as the American West was hit with massive floods and snowstorms; in the western Pacific, meanwhile, some island nations literally went bone dry and had to have water flown in on transport planes. Such effects are not new: climatologists now know the El Nino and other climate anomalies have been disrupting weather patterns throughout history. But until recently, no one had asked how this new understanding of the global weather system related to archaeology and history. Droughts, floods, heat and cold put stress on cultures and force them to adapt. What determines whether they adapt successfully? How do these climate stresses affect a people's faith in the foundations of their society and the legitimacy of their rulers? How vulnerable is our own society to climate change? In this dazzlingly original new book, archaeologist Brian Fagan shows that short-term climate shifts have been a major -- and hitherto unrecognized -- force in history. El Nino-driven droughts have brought on the collapse of dynasties in Egypt; El Nino monsoon failures have caused historic famines in India; and El Nino floods have destroyed whole civilizations in Peru. Other short-term climate changes may have caused the mysterious abandonment of the Anasazi dwellings in the American Southwest and the collapse of the ancient Maya empire, as well as changed the course of European history. This beautifully written, groundbreaking book opens a new door on our understanding of historical events. Climatologists now know that El Nino and other climate anomalies have been disrupting weather patterns throughout history. But until recently, no one had asked how this new understanding of the global weather system related to archaeology and history. Droughts, floods, heat and cold put stress on cultures and force them to adapt. What determines whether they adapt successfully? How do these climate stresses affect a people's faith in the foundations of their society and the legitimacy of their rulers? How vulnerable is our own society to climate change? In this book, archaeologist Brian Fagan shows that short-term climate shifts have been a major - and hitherto unrecognized - force in history. El Nino-driven droughts have brought on the collapse of dynasties in Egypt; El Nino monsoon failures have caused historic famines in India; and El Nino floods have destroyed whole civilizations in Peru. Other short-term climate changes may have caused the mysterious abandonment of the Anasazi dwellings in the American Southwest and the collapse of the ancient Maya empire, as well as changed the course of European history. This book opens a new door on our understanding of historical events. Frontmatter Author's Note (page ix) Preface (page xi) Acknowledgments (page xxi) PART ONE THE CHRISTMAS CHILD 1. The Great Visitation (page 3) 2. Guano Happens (page 27) 3. ENSO (page 45) 4. The North Atlantic Oscillation (page 65) PART TWO ANCIENT EL NIÑOS 5. A Time of Warming (page 89) 6. Pharaohs in Crisis (page 119) 7. The Moche Lords (page 143) 8. The Classic Maya Collapse (page 169) 9. The Ancient Ones (page 195) PART THREE CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE STREAM OF TIME 10. The Catastrophe of 1877-1878 (page 221) 11. "Drought Follows the Plow" (page 245) 12. El Niños That Shook the World (page 269) 13. The Fate of Civilizations (page 291) Notes and Sources (page 313) Index (page 331) From the Publisher: In 1999, few people had thought to examine the effects of climate on civilization. Now, due in part to the groundbreaking work of archaeologist Brian Fagan, climate change is a central issue. Revised and updated ten years after its first publication, Floods, Famines and Emperors remains the definitive account of how the world's best-known climate event had an indelible impact on history Civilisations have long been dictated by cycles of rise and fall. The author shows beautifully how El Nino gave rise to human civilisation and continually shape and alter their fates, and how human adapt to a weather system that cycles beyond human lifetimes – or fail to. Reissued and updated ten years after its original publication, a dazzlingly original book?far ahead of its time?explains how the world's best-known climate event affect ed the rise and fall of civilizations Examines the links between climate and culture by looking at the long-term effects of El Nino on weather patterns over the past five millennia and studying the impact on human civilization during that time Come late February, the Indian sun becomes hotter with the advent of spring.