Another example (in addition to the Mayan one) is the Anasazi of southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico in the late 13th century. Tree ring evidence indicates an extended drought period of about 25 years that caused their highly-developed network of cliff dwellings to be abandoned and the peoples moved on.
Posted by anony at April 23, 2007 09:14 AMWe have the technology to turn Salt water to fresh water. I see no reason why we do not start tapping that resource immediately.
Especially in the Southwest where I live.
Oh right, it's expensive.
I'm sure companies like GE and Halliburton are ready for the jump.
Water will soon become the most sought out natural resource.
That is if the bees come back.
Anasazi
It's a good example for the idea that challenges in combination are the trouble, too. The pre Pueblo population was rising, they were good at arid-land farming, then came extended drought and conflict. I linked to just a few examples in the post (the Akkadian Empire (the world's first); Roanoake, VA colony; and Gonur and its suburbs in Central Asia) but there are certainly more.
According to the papers I have read, the people of the Bronze Age oasis cultures in Central Asia actually adapted pretty well to the same prolonged drought event that played a role in the collapse of the Akkadian Empire. The oasis peoples moved and appear to have kept their society intact when they did. The Akkadians were empire builders and often engaged in territorial conflict (Mesopotamia is hot property). There is evidence that they tried to cope with changing water resources but just couldn't keep up.
Posted by Christina at April 23, 2007 09:34 AMt sr s grt t s sm hstry.
[Editor: ignore=off]The Austrailian drought crisis needs more media attention
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/opinion/2007/April/opinion_April77.xml§ion=opinion&col=
Imagine what it means to cut the water off from 50,000 farmers.
Posted by mainsailset at April 23, 2007 10:58 AMmn, sk ths gys t drll sm wlls nd s th wndmlls t pmp. Thr's lt f wtr, nd thy r srrndd by th stff.
[Editor: ignore=off]Make water, not war!
Posted by Seven of Six at April 23, 2007 01:04 PMSoS, I don't doubt that the need for water will cause wars in the future as it has done in the past.
I've always wondered about Roanoake, this is the first I've heard of it being drought related. Thanks, Christina - very interesting post.
Posted by iamcoyote at April 23, 2007 02:21 PMLet them drink beer.
Posted by TIKI AL at April 23, 2007 02:44 PMI don't know about Roanoake. I'm sure they had plenty of water, the wells probably could have gotten brackish and/or disease ridden.
Posted by Seven of Six at April 23, 2007 02:47 PMRoanoake...I'm sure they had plenty of water
The paleoclimate record suggests that they didn't, at least not for agriculture.
The experience of earlier colonists was ample rain for crops. If that's your experience, that's what you provision for when you set out to establish a new colony. If ample rain is not what you get, you're in trouble.
The Roanoake colonists of 1587 arrived just in time for the most severe drought in 800 years. The evidence for this comes from groves of very old Baldcypress trees (ringwidth, early & latewood density).
The early Jamestown colonists also suffered the effects of drought. The trees record a seven-year drought from 1606 to 1612. Mortality was high throughout the early stages of the colony (it was founded in 1607) and the leading cause of death was malnutrition. Poor rain, poor crops, poor nutrition.
Posted by Christina at April 23, 2007 03:27 PMNthng nw ndr th sn. Whn th lnd s dfld, t spws t th nhbtnts.
[Editor: ignore=off]Nothing new under the sun. When the land is defiled, it spews out the inhabitants.
As we will clearly experience if we keep it up.
Oh I forgot bendejo, you have your Rapture awaiting.
When the land is defiled, it spews out the inhabitants.
And yet, here you are, day after day, rooted to TLC like a dandilion.
Posted by iamcoyote at April 23, 2007 05:52 PMThanks for the link Christina.
I know the Roanoke Colony got caught in a bind because they were late for the planting season, and the re-supply ships from England came 2 years late. Some war with the Spanish.
Also, those pesky Indians and all that. I can't figure out why, especially after their Chief was murdered. I think the Roanoke Colony is called the Lost Colony. I had to ask my 10 year old, he just did a report on it. They disappeared and left the word "Croatoan" carved in rock or tree.
Now Jamestown was different. Very well could have been drought.
I have always assumed that clean drinking water was not a priority for the English, that's why I thought they could have died of diseases.
Malnutrition makes sense though.
the re-supply ships from England came 2 years late
...which would not have been a problem if they could have grown sufficient food. But you need rain for that and they arrived just in time for a major drought. I'm just reporting on the most modern understading according to the folks who specialize in these things, ymmv.
Posted by Christina at April 23, 2007 07:28 PMI've done a study of water resources in the Four Corners area after climate change. The global climate models are all over the map on how precipitation will change, but they agree that it will be about 3 degrees C warmer in 2050. With that temperature increase, it will take approximately 20% more precipitation just to break even on water availability. This is in a rapidly growing region in which water is already a limiting resource. It's a really ugly situation.
Posted by CA Pol Junkie at April 25, 2007 01:41 PM