The Little Ice Age Summary

The Little Ice Age by Brian Fagan is a novel that discussed different climate periods that occurred. The setting of the novel occurred in Europe from 1300 to 1850. Throughout that time period the climate in Europe was changing quite drastically. The layout of this book was done chronologically and thematically. Fagan broke down the book into four different parts: Warmth and its Aftermath, Cooling Begins, The End of the “Full World”, and The Modern Warm Period. He also went further into breaking down each section from discussing the medieval warm period, to the climate seesaw, then to the specter of hunger, finally to a warmer greenhouse as well as other things in between. The way he wrote the book was not based on his personal experience. It

was from the research and knowledge that he gathered and began to study.

He argued how history has been affected by short-term climate change. The ice age period was a time of extremely changeable climate. He also argued how climate did not cause history, but how climate impacted the lives of humans, animals, plants, and the world itself. Climate played a major role of history because it affected the agriculture. When the agriculture is affected the people of the land must adapt to the climate changes and adjust their way of life in order to survive with these drastic changes.

During the medieval warm period the spread of the Norse occurred. The Norse raided, traded, ventured from Scandinavia across the North Sea into France along with the Low Countries. The Norse was known as peaceful traders who kept their knowledge close on a personal level. They kept their knowledge from generations to generations. Their knowledge was always in constant use. “Nose navigators lived in intimate association with winds and waves, watching sea and sky, sighting high glaciers from afar by the characteristics ice-blink that reflects from them, predicting ice conditions from years of experience navigating near the pack” (Fagan, 5). The climate

was a huge part for the Norse because it affected how they would get to places. If the climate produced no wind or waves, voyaging on seas would be difficult. There are four different currents, the North Atlantic Current, the East Greenland Current, West Greenland Current, and the Labrador Current. The Norse voyaged throughout this area, but the water was brutal and would turn into ice at any given moment. The North Atlantic was dominated by the Westerlies winds. These winds gave a warmer and wetter winter in Europe as well as colder weather in the north. The Reduced Westerlies winds gave milder weather in Greenland and colder weather in Europe. Rain began to be continuous from August and beyond which lead to the death of crops, shoots washing away, basically leaving no harvest. With the rain and cold water there chances of survival for crops were left to a minimal. Without harvest the people expanded to marginal areas and many people began to go hungry. Up to one and a half million Europeans died from starvation or famine epidemics. The people of this time depended on the seasons. The people were so dependent on the weather in order for harvest to occur. During this time it was very difficult for the people to adapt to the weather changes because they were not used to this leaving them quite helpless and vulnerable.
Europeans experienced the coldest time during the years of 1805 to 1820. There was no summer at all. The temperatures during this season were very low that crops had no chance of survival. “Social unrest, pillaging, rioting, and criminal violence erupted across Europe in 1816, reaching a climax the following spring” (Fagan 172). The climate was affecting the people of Europe greatly and in a negative way. People were arguing and fighting each other in order to survive. The people began to steal foods as well so they had a chance for survival. The shortage of food was not only occurring in Europe, it was happening in multiple areas such as Ireland and Britain as well. Since harvest was barely occurring the food prices rose extremely. People were not able to purchase food because the prices were so high, which eventually lead to death. The quality of the food was also a cause of death also. Climate was not the only factor that played a role in the tragic deaths of the people. The economic circumstances during this period were unsettled. All these changes that were befalling on the people of Europe as well as other places were causing a massive shift in behavior of the society.
Fagan argued that the climate affected the people, but he stated that it was no longer natural.

When the sun heats the Earth gases are released as well as water vapor. They go into the atmosphere and regulate the temperature. This is known as global warming or the greenhouse effect. Many of the environmental complications derive from the political and social involvement. The climate was not the only cause, but we had humans played a role on what had been occurring to the world. Earth has many different atmospheric layers that are influenced by the greenhouse gases. “Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have now increased nearly 30 percent since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution; methane levels have more than doubled; and nitrous oxide concentrations have risen by about 15 percent” (Fagan 209). The increase of these gases also enhanced the trapping of the heat. With more heat being trapped this lead to many coastlines to flood due to the melting of snow and ice. The increase of dangerous weather actions will pose as a threat also. These changes in the environment would eventually lead to political and social change of the people Overpopulation in certain areas and industry formation influence the greenhouse effect. We as a whole are destroying the place we live, the natural world. Although there are ways to prevent and reduce global warming, we cannot stop the natural occurrence of future climate. Climate is not the only factor, each individual that as

lived, living, or will live are as well.
Fagan discussed multiple topics that issued the constant change of climate. I believe that Fagan made beneficial points throughout his novel The Little Ice Age. From an outsiders standpoint I had no idea that the climate changes were affecting the people so tremendously. I knew that the climate changed constantly and we as individuals had to learn to adapt to these changes. Individuals would do anything just for survival, so they acted like savages. With the increase of technology and overpopulation we are playing a role in affecting the world we live in as well. In today’s generation, I understand how global warming is affecting our planet. You can see how the climate has been affecting us politically, and socially. There are ways we can reduce global warming and slow down the process, but we cannot change the inevitable on what is to occur. We can adapt to all these climate changes, but that will not results in final solution. Fagan’s novel was very informative and gave me a better understanding on how climate affected us. As a result, I agree with Fagan’s thesis. The climate affected us and us human also affect the climate.