How climate change impacted the collapse of the Ming dynasty
文献类型：SCI/SSCI论文
| 作者 | Zheng J. Y. ; Xiao L. B. ; Fang X. Q. ; Hao Z. X. ; Ge Q. S. ; Li B. B. |
| 发表日期 | 2014 |
| 关键词 | northern-hemisphere last millennium temporal variations linking climate monsoonal rain eastern china variability temperature reconstructions environment |
| 英文摘要 | Based on the reconstructed temperatures, precipitation changes, and occurrences of extreme climate events, together with historical records on fiscal deterioration, food crises, and the frequencies of popular unrest, rebellions and wars, we identified three principal ways in which climate change contributed to the collapse in the Ming dynasty. Firstly, cooling, aridification, and desertification during a cold period destroyed the military farm system, which was the main supply system for the provisioning of government troops on the northern frontiers; these impacts increased the military expenditure from 64 % of total government expenditure in 1548-1569 to 76 % in 1570-1589 and thus aggravated the national fiscal crisis that occurred during the late Ming dynasty. Secondly, climate deterioration (e.g., cooling, aridification, and an increase in the frequencies of frost- and drought-related disasters, etc.) led to a 20-50 % reduction in the per capita production of raw grain in most areas of China, which resulted in widespread food crises and exacerbated the vulnerability of social structures during the last several decades of the Ming dynasty. Thirdly, the severe droughts occurring in 1627-1643 were a key trigger to the peasantry uprising. These droughts also played a significant role to promote the peasantry uprising, especially reviving the peasantry troops by recruitment of famine victims when they nearly perished in 1633 and 1638, and severely disrupting the food supply for the government troops, resulting in the final defeat of the government troops by the peasantry troops. This study contributes to an understanding of the climate-related mechanisms behind the collapse of the Ming dynasty, and provides a historical case study that enhances our understanding of the nature of interactions between climate change and social vulnerability. |
| 出处 | Climatic Change |
| 卷 | 127 |
| 期 | 2 |
| 页 | 169-182 |
| 收录类别 | SCI |
| 语种 | 英语 |
| ISSN号 | 0165-0009 |
| 源URL | [http://ir.igsnrr.ac.cn/handle/311030/29367]  |
| 专题 | 地理科学与资源研究所_历年回溯文献 |
| 推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714 | Zheng J. Y.,Xiao L. B.,Fang X. Q.,et al. How climate change impacted the collapse of the Ming dynasty. 2014. |
入库方式： OAI收割
来源：地理科学与资源研究所
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