Changes in North Atlantic Oscillation drove Population Migrations and the Collapse of the Western Roman Empire
Abstract Shifts in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) from 1–2 to 0–1 in four episodes increased droughts on the Roman Empire’s periphery and created push factors for migrations. These climatic events are associated with the movements of the Cimbri and Teutones from 113–101 B.C., the Marcomanni an...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:67b1c324c2e54eea8bfbd7e19e4c2203 2023-05-15T17:30:24+02:00 Changes in North Atlantic Oscillation drove Population Migrations and the Collapse of the Western Roman Empire B. Lee Drake 2017-04-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-01289-z https://doaj.org/article/67b1c324c2e54eea8bfbd7e19e4c2203 EN eng Nature Portfolio https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-01289-z https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-017-01289-z 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/67b1c324c2e54eea8bfbd7e19e4c2203 Scientific Reports, Vol 7, Iss 1, Pp 1-7 (2017) Medicine R Science Q article 2017 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-01289-z 2022-12-31T08:03:40Z Abstract Shifts in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) from 1–2 to 0–1 in four episodes increased droughts on the Roman Empire’s periphery and created push factors for migrations. These climatic events are associated with the movements of the Cimbri and Teutones from 113–101 B.C., the Marcomanni and Quadi from 164 to 180 A.D., the Goths in 376 A.D., and the broad population movements of the Migration Period from 500 to 600 A.D. Weakening of the NAO in the instrumental record of the NAO have been associated with a shift to drought in the areas of origin for the Cimbri, Quadi, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Huns, and Slavs. While other climate indices indicate deteriorating climate after 200 A.D. and cooler conditions after 500 A.D., the NAO may indicate a specific cause for the punctuated history of migrations in Late Antiquity. Periodic weakening of the NAO caused drought in the regions of origin for tribes in antiquity, and may have created a powerful push factor for human migration. While climate change is frequently considered as a threat to sustainability, its role as a conflict amplifier in history may be one of its largest impacts on populations. Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic North Atlantic oscillation Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Scientific Reports 7 1 |
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Medicine R Science Q B. Lee Drake Changes in North Atlantic Oscillation drove Population Migrations and the Collapse of the Western Roman Empire |
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Medicine R Science Q |
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Abstract Shifts in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) from 1–2 to 0–1 in four episodes increased droughts on the Roman Empire’s periphery and created push factors for migrations. These climatic events are associated with the movements of the Cimbri and Teutones from 113–101 B.C., the Marcomanni and Quadi from 164 to 180 A.D., the Goths in 376 A.D., and the broad population movements of the Migration Period from 500 to 600 A.D. Weakening of the NAO in the instrumental record of the NAO have been associated with a shift to drought in the areas of origin for the Cimbri, Quadi, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Huns, and Slavs. While other climate indices indicate deteriorating climate after 200 A.D. and cooler conditions after 500 A.D., the NAO may indicate a specific cause for the punctuated history of migrations in Late Antiquity. Periodic weakening of the NAO caused drought in the regions of origin for tribes in antiquity, and may have created a powerful push factor for human migration. While climate change is frequently considered as a threat to sustainability, its role as a conflict amplifier in history may be one of its largest impacts on populations. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
B. Lee Drake |
author_facet |
B. Lee Drake |
author_sort |
B. Lee Drake |
title |
Changes in North Atlantic Oscillation drove Population Migrations and the Collapse of the Western Roman Empire |
title_short |
Changes in North Atlantic Oscillation drove Population Migrations and the Collapse of the Western Roman Empire |
title_full |
Changes in North Atlantic Oscillation drove Population Migrations and the Collapse of the Western Roman Empire |
title_fullStr |
Changes in North Atlantic Oscillation drove Population Migrations and the Collapse of the Western Roman Empire |
title_full_unstemmed |
Changes in North Atlantic Oscillation drove Population Migrations and the Collapse of the Western Roman Empire |
title_sort |
changes in north atlantic oscillation drove population migrations and the collapse of the western roman empire |
publisher |
Nature Portfolio |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-01289-z https://doaj.org/article/67b1c324c2e54eea8bfbd7e19e4c2203 |
genre |
North Atlantic North Atlantic oscillation |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic North Atlantic oscillation |
op_source |
Scientific Reports, Vol 7, Iss 1, Pp 1-7 (2017) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-01289-z https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-017-01289-z 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/67b1c324c2e54eea8bfbd7e19e4c2203 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-01289-z |
container_title |
Scientific Reports |
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7 |
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1 |
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1766126793308241920 |