Climate Through Human History

Climate Influences on the Development of Civilizations

Two examples of climate influence on the development of civilization.

Natufians of Palestine

Apparently climate had considerable influence in this region.

Starting 12,000 years ago, summertime climate of Palestine became much hotter and drier (end of glacial period). This climate change led to summertime food shortages.

The change in climate favored annual species of wild grains and legumes (these are larger and so protected during the summer).

Domestication of grain occurred by selecting (natural mutations) grains with tougher connection between stalk and seed. These seeds were more likely to make it to their village, and so they were more likely to be planted during the next season.

Wild grain Social organization Technology>

Climate Forcing

Development of agriculture in the Near East

Egyptian Civilization

Egypt and the Nile Valley; Tigris and Euphrates; Indus Valley and China --> Civilization grew part of a necessary development to feed a more concentrated population at the time when huge areas outside these valleys were becoming more desert like.

Development of irrigation agriculture took place independently in China, SE Asia, the middle East, and South America.

	Climate change in N. Africa (drier, starting 5,000-3,000BC)
	Migration of nomad populations
	Concentration of these populations along river valleys
	Development of irrigation agriculture
	Irrigation in river basins
	Large amounts of water, but work was larger than what a single family could provide)
	Construction and management of the irrigation system
Specialized labor		Voluntary or forced cooperation of a large group of people
Start of technology		Full time overseers
		invention of writing to keep track of laborers and supplies
		record history; technical discoveries and eventually self-expression
		political systems emerge to manage ever-growing populations
		regulator of all aspects of life: religion, armies, taxes...