Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More The Little Ice Age
Dec 27, 2022
Discover the chilling impact of climate change around 700 years ago that led to the Little Ice Age. Explore how this cooler period influenced agriculture, leading to food shortages and significant societal shifts in Europe and North America. Learn about the fascinating link between climate and historical events, including famines and conflicts. Delve into theories about the causes of this mysterious climatic era and uncover its profound legacy on human history.
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Climate As A Macro Historical Force
- Climate acts as a high-level force that shapes history beyond individuals, technologies, and single events.
- Long-term shifts in climate subtly redirect economies, migrations, and political outcomes across centuries.
Scope And Scale Of The Little Ice Age
- The Little Ice Age was a centuries-long, regional cooling centered on the North Atlantic that affected Europe and North America.
- It averaged about 0.6°C cooler in the Northern Hemisphere with punctuated cold episodes around 1650, 1770, and 1850.
Cold-Era Paintings And Frozen Seas
- Historical records and paintings show extreme cold: the Baltic froze in 1303 and 1307 and canals in Amsterdam filled with skaters.
- Iceland was often blocked by sea ice and people depicted winter scenes that rarely occur today.