Global warming and the future of the climate is one of the greatest challenges of our time, but what do we know about climate variations 500 years ago, or 5000 years ago? How can we know anything at all about the history of weather? What impact have climate changes had on human prosperity and the spirit of invention?
In this major new book Wolfgang Behringer introduces us to the latest historical research on the development of the earth's climate. He focuses above all on the cultural reactions to climate change through the ages, showing how even minor changes in the climate sometimes resulted in major social, political and religious upheavals. By examining how our predecessors responded to climate changes, Behringer provides us with a fresh basis for thinking about how we might address the serious climatic challenges we face today.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
"The reaction of societies to environmental change in this thoroughly research and insightful book is presented in a highly readable way, whether Behringer is dealing with the Medieval Warm Period and wine harvest data, or with the Little Ice Age and the rise of the Dutch genre of winter landscape painting."
Sociology
"[E]xcellent ... I strongly recommend A Cultural History of Climate ... It is particularly strong on explaining the dramatic cultural and social changes that climate variations have had on humanity over the last thousands of years, and discussing the archival and physical evidence in a very compelling way."
Socialist Unity
"A daring account of the ways in which climate has influenced the human story ... he proves beyond any sensible doubt that climate has helped shape human history. BOOK OF THE MONTH."
Geographical
"Behringer's cultural history of climate shows that today's concern with global warming is only the latest example of humankind's preoccupation with weather and climate. He provides a careful and realistic view of the reaction of societies to environmental change."
J. Donald Hughes, University of Denver
"Today we may worry about global warming and climate change, but our ancestors coped with plenty of dramatic climate change too - this is the central theme of Behringer's arresting global study of human responses to changing climate since our species appeared on earth. Not all readers will share his sanguine tone but they will find this extensively researched book consistently provocative and insightful, whether it's dealing with wine harvest data, adoption of heavier clothing, the great ice age or the Dutch genre of winter landscape painting."
Peter Coates, University of Bristol
Auflage
Sprache
Verlagsort
Verlagsgruppe
Produkt-Hinweis
Maße
Höhe: 229 mm
Breite: 155 mm
Dicke: 28 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-0-7456-4528-5 (9780745645285)
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Professor of History and Chair of Early Modern History at Saarland University, Germany
Autor*in
Professor of History and Chair of Early Modern History at Saarland University, Germany
Contents
Preface
Introduction
1. What Do We Know about the Climate?
Sources of Climate History
Causes of Climate Change
The Palaeoclimate since the Formation of the Planet
2. Global Warming: The Holocene
Children of the Ice Age
Global Warming and Civilization
From Roman Optimum to Medieval Warm Period
3. Global Cooling: The Little Ice Age
The Concept of the Little Ice Age
The Changing Environment
Dance of Death
Winter Blues
4. Cultural Consequences of the Little Ice Age
The Wrathful God
Sin Economics as the Motor of Change
The Cool Sun of Reason
5. Global Warming: The Modern Warm Period
Apparent Uncoupling from the Forces of Nature
The Discovery of Global Warming
Reactions to Climate Change
6. Sins against the Environment and Greenhouse Climate
Notes
Further reading
Picture credits
Index
