Falling Temperatures Caused War, Hunger in Europe

Before the Industrial Revolution, prolonged periods of cold led to chaos across the continent.

Chinese researchers say a mini ice age in pre-industrial Europe led to wars, famines, and even people becoming shorter than the generations before them. Colder temperatures led to shorter growing seasons, which meant the output of European farms couldn't keep up with a constantly growing population. The research team from the University of Hong Kong said that these food shortages led to starvations and migrations that underpinned some of the biggest crises of pre-19th Century Europe. Declines in temperature were followed by "peaks of social disturbance such as rebellions, revolutions, and political reforms," says David Zhang, the lead researcher. For example, a prolonged period of cold from 1559-1662 contributed to the outbreak of the Thirty Years' War and food shortages that led to Europeans being on average 0.8 inches shorter than their forebears. The researchers also suggest that the Renaissance could have been prompted by increased temperatures, as that would have meant longer growing seasons and more food, which would have freed up some citizens to pursue lives in the arts and sciences instead of tilling fields for some baron.