The Little Ice Age: How Cold Weather Changed History

🛑The Great Famine of 1315-1317 was one of the most severe crises in northern Europe, caused by extreme weather conditions during the Little Ice Age.

👽The Little Ice Age affected crop yields and livestock, causing widespread hunger and poverty.

🛢The changing climate during the Little Ice Age played a role in triggering the Bubonic Plague outbreak, known as the Black Death.

❄The decline of Norse colonies in Greenland can be attributed to the colder climate and worsening conditions during the Little Ice Age.

⛰The Little Ice Age had global impacts, affecting weather patterns, causing droughts in South America, and prompting sea level drops in the Pacific Islands.

What caused the Great Famine of 1315-1317?

—The Great Famine was caused by extreme weather conditions during the Little Ice Age, which led to crop failures and shortage of food.

How did the Little Ice Age impact the Norse colonies in Greenland?

—The colder climate and worsening conditions during the Little Ice Age made it difficult for the Norse colonies to sustain themselves, leading to their eventual disappearance.

Did the Little Ice Age contribute to the spread of the Bubonic Plague?

—Yes, the changing climate during the Little Ice Age played a role in triggering the Bubonic Plague outbreak, as people huddled indoors in close proximity, facilitating the spread of the disease.

Was the Little Ice Age limited to Europe?

—No, the Little Ice Age had global impacts, affecting weather patterns and causing extreme weather events in various parts of the world.

How did the Little Ice Age affect European fishermen?

—As the waters off the coast of Europe became colder, European fishermen had to venture further into the Atlantic, including the New World, in search of codfish.

00:00The Great Famine of 1315-1317, caused by the Little Ice Age, led to extreme hunger and crop failures in northern Europe.

03:41The Little Ice Age affected weather patterns globally, causing droughts, heatwaves, and sea-level drops.

05:08The changing climate during the Little Ice Age played a role in triggering the Bubonic Plague outbreak.

06:37The decline of Norse colonies in Greenland can be attributed to the colder climate and worsening conditions during the Little Ice Age.