Ning Posting 1:

The Little Ice AgeDevin Koppel – History 141 – Fall 2011

An Era of Chilling Destruction

The Little Ice Age: a disastrous situation with effects that attacked mankind, causing a chain reaction of destruction across civilization A period marked by volatile and unpredictable climatic shifts that were extremely destructive to societyThe Little Ice Age had ignited death and turmoil all across Europe, devastating populations of humans and livestock, depleting crops and food supply, and killing millions with starvation and famine related diseasesThis event reshaped the world and changed the course of history, and the natural forces that caused it are still a mystery that is believed to be part of a recurring cycle

Beliefs: Demons and WitchcraftWhen the Little Ice Age Began, it was believed that the glaciers had become possessed by the devil

Priests attempted an exorcism on them to stop their devastating advance – this exorcism was the alpine peasants' only hope to save their civilization

Many believed it was the work of witchcraft, which led to the hunting and burning of many women who were believed to be witches

Scientific Theories & ExplanationsScientists still to this day dispute the importance of the

sun’s energy, volcanic activity, shifts in ocean currents, and of other possibilitiesClimatologists have learned that even the smallest drop in temperature can leave humans extremely vulnerableSome scientists believe that the cause was a phenomenon known as an oceanic conveyer belt - when this conveyer belt was stopped by an influx of fresh water, this caused a dramatic drop in temperatureMany scientists believe that it is global warming that will trigger a new Little Ice Age because of the freshening caused by melting glaciers into the sea. There are many theories that have been developed by scientists in an attempt to solve the mystery of The Little Ice Age, and there is still much debate as to what the real cause was.