Велике потепління. Зміна клімату та піднесення й гибель цивілізацій

How the earth's previous global warming phase, from the tenth to the fifteenth centuries, reshaped human societies from the Arctic to the Saharaa wide-ranging history with sobering lessons for our own time. From the tenth to the fifteenth centuries the earth experienced a rise in surface temperature that changed climate worldwidea preview of today's global warming. In some areas, including Western Europe, longer summers brought bountiful harvests and population growth that led to cultural flowering. In the Arctic, Inuit and Norse sailors made cultural connections across thousands of miles as they traded precious iron goods. Polynesian sailors, riding new wind patterns, were able to settle the remotest islands on earth. But in many parts of the world, the warm centuries brought drought and famine. Elaborate societies in western and central America collapsed, and the vast building complexes of Chaco Canyon and the Mayan Yucatan were left empty. As he did in his bestselling The Little Ice Age , anthropologist and historian Brian Fagan reveals how subtle changes in the environment had far-reaching effects on human life, in a narrative that sweeps from the Arctic ice cap to the Sahara to the Indian Ocean. The history of the Great Warming of a half millennium ago suggests that we may yet be underestimating the power of climate change to disrupt our lives todayand our vulnerability to drought, writes Fagan, is the "silent elephant in the room." Learn more at (http://www.brianfagan.com) www.brianfagan.com . Brian Fagan discusses The Great Warming on The Daily Show with John Stewart. PRAISE for The Great Warming : "This is not only World History at its best, sweeping across all of humankind with a coherent vision, but also a feat of imagination and massive research. If Fagan has given the medieval period throughout the globe a new dimension, he has at the same time issued an irrefutable warning about climate change that is deeply troubling."Theodore Rabb, author of The Last Days of the Renaissance "Climate has been making history for a very long time, though historians have rarely paid much attention to it. But as it turns out, a few less inches of rain, a change in temperature of just a degree or two can make all the difference in how human events unfold. The Great Warming demonstrates that although human beings make history, they very definitely do not make it under circumstances of their own choosing.Ted Steinberg, author of Down to Natures Role in American History and American The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Lawn From The 10th To The 15th Centuries The Earth Experienced A Rise In Surface Temperature That Changed Climate Worldwide--a Preview Of Today's Global Warming. In Some Areas, Including Western Europe, Longer Summers Brought Bountiful Harvests And Population Growth That Led To Cultural Flowering. In The Arctic, Inuit And Norse Sailors Made Cultural Connections Across Thousands Of Miles As They Traded Precious Iron Goods. Polynesian Sailors, Riding New Wind Patterns, Were Able To Settle The Remotest Islands On Earth. But In Many Parts Of The World, The Warm Centuries Brought Drought And Famine. Elaborate Societies In Western And Central America Collapsed, And The Vast Building Complexes Of Chaco Canyon And The Mayan Yucatan Were Left Empty. Anthropologist And Historian Brian Fagan Reveals How Subtle Changes In The Environment Had Far-reaching Effects On Human Life, In A Narrative That Sweeps From The Arctic Ice Cap To The Sahara To The Indian Ocean.--from Publisher Description. A Time Of Warming -- The Mantle Of The Poor -- The Flail Of God -- The Golden Trade Of The Moors -- Inuit And Qadlunaat -- The Megadrought Epoch -- Acorns And Pueblos -- Lords Of The Water Mountains -- The Lords Of Chimor -- Bucking The Trades -- The Flying Fish Ocean -- China's Sorrow -- The Silent Elephant. Brian Fagan. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [245]-262) And Index. A history of the planet's last global warming phase, which took place between the tenth and fifteenth centuries, traces how climate changes affected trading routes and population growth, bringing abundance to some regions and famines to others.