Volcanic suppression of Nile summer flooding triggers revolt and constrains interstate conflict in ancient Egypt
© 2017 The Author(s). Volcanic eruptions provide tests of human and natural system sensitivity to abrupt shocks because their repeated occurrence allows the identification of systematic relationships in the presence of random variability. Here we show a suppression of Nile summer flooding via the ra...
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ftcdlib:qt9cj202st 2023-05-15T16:39:06+02:00 Volcanic suppression of Nile summer flooding triggers revolt and constrains interstate conflict in ancient Egypt Manning, JG Ludlow, F Stine, AR Boos, WR Sigl, M Marlon, JR 2017-12-01 application/pdf http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/9cj202st english eng eScholarship, University of California qt9cj202st http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/9cj202st public Manning, JG; Ludlow, F; Stine, AR; Boos, WR; Sigl, M; & Marlon, JR. (2017). Volcanic suppression of Nile summer flooding triggers revolt and constrains interstate conflict in ancient Egypt. Nature Communications, 8(1). doi:10.1038/s41467-017-00957-y. UC Berkeley: Retrieved from: http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/9cj202st article 2017 ftcdlib https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-00957-y 2018-07-20T22:51:34Z © 2017 The Author(s). Volcanic eruptions provide tests of human and natural system sensitivity to abrupt shocks because their repeated occurrence allows the identification of systematic relationships in the presence of random variability. Here we show a suppression of Nile summer flooding via the radiative and dynamical impacts of explosive volcanism on the African monsoon, using climate model output, ice-core-based volcanic forcing data, Nilometer measurements, and ancient Egyptian writings. We then examine the response of Ptolemaic Egypt (305-30 BCE), one of the best-documented ancient superpowers, to volcanically induced Nile suppression. Eruptions are associated with revolt onset against elite rule, and the cessation of Ptolemaic state warfare with their great rival, the Seleukid Empire. Eruptions are also followed by socioeconomic stress with increased hereditary land sales, and the issuance of priestly decrees to reinforce elite authority. Ptolemaic vulnerability to volcanic eruptions offers a caution for all monsoon-dependent agricultural regions, presently including 70% of world population. Article in Journal/Newspaper ice core University of California: eScholarship Nature Communications 8 1 |
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© 2017 The Author(s). Volcanic eruptions provide tests of human and natural system sensitivity to abrupt shocks because their repeated occurrence allows the identification of systematic relationships in the presence of random variability. Here we show a suppression of Nile summer flooding via the radiative and dynamical impacts of explosive volcanism on the African monsoon, using climate model output, ice-core-based volcanic forcing data, Nilometer measurements, and ancient Egyptian writings. We then examine the response of Ptolemaic Egypt (305-30 BCE), one of the best-documented ancient superpowers, to volcanically induced Nile suppression. Eruptions are associated with revolt onset against elite rule, and the cessation of Ptolemaic state warfare with their great rival, the Seleukid Empire. Eruptions are also followed by socioeconomic stress with increased hereditary land sales, and the issuance of priestly decrees to reinforce elite authority. Ptolemaic vulnerability to volcanic eruptions offers a caution for all monsoon-dependent agricultural regions, presently including 70% of world population. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Manning, JG Ludlow, F Stine, AR Boos, WR Sigl, M Marlon, JR |
spellingShingle |
Manning, JG Ludlow, F Stine, AR Boos, WR Sigl, M Marlon, JR Volcanic suppression of Nile summer flooding triggers revolt and constrains interstate conflict in ancient Egypt |
author_facet |
Manning, JG Ludlow, F Stine, AR Boos, WR Sigl, M Marlon, JR |
author_sort |
Manning, JG |
title |
Volcanic suppression of Nile summer flooding triggers revolt and constrains interstate conflict in ancient Egypt |
title_short |
Volcanic suppression of Nile summer flooding triggers revolt and constrains interstate conflict in ancient Egypt |
title_full |
Volcanic suppression of Nile summer flooding triggers revolt and constrains interstate conflict in ancient Egypt |
title_fullStr |
Volcanic suppression of Nile summer flooding triggers revolt and constrains interstate conflict in ancient Egypt |
title_full_unstemmed |
Volcanic suppression of Nile summer flooding triggers revolt and constrains interstate conflict in ancient Egypt |
title_sort |
volcanic suppression of nile summer flooding triggers revolt and constrains interstate conflict in ancient egypt |
publisher |
eScholarship, University of California |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/9cj202st |
genre |
ice core |
genre_facet |
ice core |
op_source |
Manning, JG; Ludlow, F; Stine, AR; Boos, WR; Sigl, M; & Marlon, JR. (2017). Volcanic suppression of Nile summer flooding triggers revolt and constrains interstate conflict in ancient Egypt. Nature Communications, 8(1). doi:10.1038/s41467-017-00957-y. UC Berkeley: Retrieved from: http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/9cj202st |
op_relation |
qt9cj202st http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/9cj202st |
op_rights |
public |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-00957-y |
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Nature Communications |
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8 |
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1 |
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1766029436781592576 |