“A sweeping story, embracing developments in economics and science, philosophy and exploration, religion and politics. . . . Beautifully clear.”— John Lanchester, The New Yorker
Hailed as an “arresting” (Lawrence Klepp, New Criterion) account, Nature’s Mutiny chronicles the great climate crisis of the seventeenth century that totally transformed Europe’s social and political fabric. Best-selling … totally transformed Europe’s social and political fabric. Best-selling historian Philipp Blom reveals how a new, radically altered Europe emerged out of the “Little Ice Age” that diminished crop yields across the continent, forcing thousands to flee starvation in the countryside to burgeoning urban centers, and even froze London’s Thames, upon which British citizens erected semipermanent frost fairs with bustling kiosks, taverns, and brothels. Highlighting how politics and culture also changed drastically, Blom evokes the era’s most influential artists and thinkers who imagined groundbreaking worldviews to cope with environmental cataclysm.
As we face a climate crisis of our own, “Blom’s prodigious synthesis delivers a sharply-focused lesson for the twenty-first century: the profound effects of just a few degrees of climate change can alter the course of civilization, forever” (Laurence A. Marschall, Natural History).
more
This book concerns the Little Ice Age and the effect it had on the intellectual development of history. The author tries to connect the weather to changes throughout Europe. Each chapter is dedicated to a different subject. The book was easy to read and historical illustrations accompany the text. At the end of the book the author ties history the current climate change. For those not familiar with the little ice age this book offers a good overview. Enjoy
Great historical account. Combined with other information, puts the greenie weenie climate folks to shame for not doing their homework.
Climate change in the Middle ages
Absolutely recommended. I learned so much.
I do not know how I missed this on original publication. For fans of Hamilton, this is a period piece that adds so much to the American story. I’m a trained botanist ecologist and I was unaware of this amazing man and his vast contributions to science. I found the writing style engaging, informative, and interesting. This is full of characters you will recognize from all over the world. His legacy lives on, even if we are missing our first botanical, medical garden. It could have been depressing when you realize how much is so quickly lost. Read on if you are interested in early American history, Lewis and Clark, Hamilton, botany, early American Medicine.
The book brings out the parallel between the Little Ice Age and the present climate issues. Human nature makes us want to find solutions that are often wrong and disastrous for future generations. Then and now, the people in power used religion to explain the causes of natural disasters. Society chooses to believe the religious explanations, being that their understanding of science is limited. Schools should ensure that every person has some basic science understanding about the world around them.
A great review of a forgotten period when modern society of the day feared global cooling. History provides lessons.
This is a very well-researched and written book that’s easy to read! My only critique is that, as I understand it, most historians date the Little Ice Age from the beginning of the 14th Century to the beginning of the 19th Century, while this book covers only the period from about 1550 to 1670, and it doesn’t really “connect the dots” to demonstrate how climate change in that time frame caused or influenced the historical events that occurred in western Europe.
A fascinating look at how climate dramatically influenced global events as recently as twelve generations ago. Gives plenty of food for thought about our upcoming challenges even though they are antipodal to what the author recounts here.
If you like true, interesting history, this is a well thought out retake of the period, the Renaissance, the development leading to our modern world, from a new, mostly unknown perspective. For me, also quite readable.
Fascinating history. It puts events I already knew about in a whole new light. Scientific and historical research reveals actual causes for events and changes, and connections between events that have never been made.