From Krakatoa with love

"Catastrophe" is a two-part BBC documentary about how the volcanic eruption of Krakatoa in the East Indies in 535 AD impacted the climate all over the world. This is the second part, titled "How the World Changed". It´s perhaps a bit more speculative than part one. Or perhaps not. After all, it´s difficult to believe that a 18 month darkening of the sun wouldn´t have some kind of adverse consequences. At the very least, there would have been wide-spread famines. 

Archeologist David Keys, who is prominently featured in "Catastrophe", believe that the consequences were more long term. The eruption caused a 30-year draught in Mexico, which destroyed the powerful city of Teotihuacan. After decades of famine, malnutrition and general decline, the population of the city-state rebelled against the upper class, destroying the palaces and temples. Meanwhile in Arabia, the high culture of Yemen falls and tens of thousand of people are forced to migrate as the Marib Dam is broken apart and abandoned. In Central Asia, the Turks defeated the Avar horselords as the new climate killed many of their horses. The Avars migrate to Europe, where they create a new empire, while the Turks become the dominant people in Central Asia. 

Keys believes that the Justinianic Plague was indirectly caused by the Krakatoa eruption. The cooler climate supposedly triggered the plague bacteria. The documentary suggests that the plague came from Africa. As far I know, Asia is the standard theory. The Justinianic Plague also hit the Celts in Britain, depopulating large areas. This made it easier for the Anglo-Saxons to invade England and settle there. Was the birth of England the result of a dumb volcano in Indonesia?

Like many other documentaries of this kind, "Catastrophe" just has to end with some bizarre speculations about current volcanic threats, which supposedly includes the Yellowstone super volcano (it doesn´t). 

While "Catastrophe" is boring at times, it´s nevertheless a good reminder that human history isn´t just about "social forces" or "ideas", both of which share the fact that they are human. Our history is also shaped by forces beyond our control. Universe wasn´t made for man. Maybe some of us need to be reminded from time to time...