ancient times, such as the Huns, Turks, Jurchens, Mongolians, and Manchus. As the
northern minority areas had a nomadic economy, they relied entirely on grasslands to
feed themselves. When the climate became cold, the grasslands grew poorly, and
these people could not obtain sufficient food supplies; this is when they attacked the
Han regime in the south to obtain food. At this time, the south was also getting
colder, and the output of grain and other materials was drastically reduced, resulting
in a decline in overall national strength. The frequent invasion of foreigners in the
north was a result of the pressure of survival in the context of a cold climate.
Therefore, during the cold climate, the Central Plains Dynasty faced internal and
external troubles. As shown in Fig. 1.3, the Tang Dynasty was the third warm and
humid period. The warm and humid climate created conditions for the development
of the agricultural economy in this dynasty, and the development of the agricultural
economy laid the foundation for the overall development and prosperity of the social
economy.
In the mid-eighth century (755–907 A.D.), the climate changed from warm to
cold. The cold climate caused the deterioration of the living environment of the
nomadic peoples in northern China, and they moved south to dominate northern
China and establish regional dynasties. Following the Anshi Rebellion (755–763 A.
D.), the central government of the Tang Dynasty gradually lost control over most of
the country and slowly declined and perished. The Anshi Rebellion was a landmark
event that marked the beginning of this southward migration. Following another cold
mutation in the twelfth century in the Southern Song Dynasty, the northern nomadic
Mongolians began to rule the central plains and established a unified dynasty, the
Yuan Dynasty. There was a long cold zone between 1600 and 1700 A.D. During this
period the Ming Dynasty fell, and the Qing Dynasty was established.
The Yangtze River civilization, particularly the rice cultivation culture in the
Yangtze River civilization, had a far-reaching influence on East Asian civilizations
and the global civilization. It began in 8000 BC, more than 10,000 years ago. It is
listed as the two significant sources of the Chinese civilization alongside the Yellow
River civilization. However, around 4200 years ago, the rice cultivation culture in
the Yangtze River civilization had suddenly disappeared for approximately
300 years. It has been postulated that a rapid and sizeable cooling event may have
damaged the rice cultivation culture and contributed to the collapse of the Yangtze
delta society and the subsequent fall of the Yangtze civilization (Kajita et al. 2018).
Based on Chinese history, it appears that the warm period is better for economic
development and social stability than a cold period. At the same time, in the past
2000 years, the decline of most dynasties and the corresponding phenomenon of the
low-temperature range has not been coincidence. However, we cannot conclude that
the rise and fall of dynasties are entirely a result of climate change; many reasons
affect the course of history, with climate being one factor. Due to the political
corruption of the feudal dynasty itself, coupled with the poor harvest and starvation
from low temperatures, peasant uprisings and wars may be triggered, leading to
changing dynasties. During cold periods, the southward migration of grassland
pastures will also lead to the invasion and southward migration of northern nomads
(Liu 2009).
12
W. Zhou
northern minority areas had a nomadic economy, they relied entirely on grasslands to
feed themselves. When the climate became cold, the grasslands grew poorly, and
these people could not obtain sufficient food supplies; this is when they attacked the
Han regime in the south to obtain food. At this time, the south was also getting
colder, and the output of grain and other materials was drastically reduced, resulting
in a decline in overall national strength. The frequent invasion of foreigners in the
north was a result of the pressure of survival in the context of a cold climate.
Therefore, during the cold climate, the Central Plains Dynasty faced internal and
external troubles. As shown in Fig. 1.3, the Tang Dynasty was the third warm and
humid period. The warm and humid climate created conditions for the development
of the agricultural economy in this dynasty, and the development of the agricultural
economy laid the foundation for the overall development and prosperity of the social
economy.
In the mid-eighth century (755–907 A.D.), the climate changed from warm to
cold. The cold climate caused the deterioration of the living environment of the
nomadic peoples in northern China, and they moved south to dominate northern
China and establish regional dynasties. Following the Anshi Rebellion (755–763 A.
D.), the central government of the Tang Dynasty gradually lost control over most of
the country and slowly declined and perished. The Anshi Rebellion was a landmark
event that marked the beginning of this southward migration. Following another cold
mutation in the twelfth century in the Southern Song Dynasty, the northern nomadic
Mongolians began to rule the central plains and established a unified dynasty, the
Yuan Dynasty. There was a long cold zone between 1600 and 1700 A.D. During this
period the Ming Dynasty fell, and the Qing Dynasty was established.
The Yangtze River civilization, particularly the rice cultivation culture in the
Yangtze River civilization, had a far-reaching influence on East Asian civilizations
and the global civilization. It began in 8000 BC, more than 10,000 years ago. It is
listed as the two significant sources of the Chinese civilization alongside the Yellow
River civilization. However, around 4200 years ago, the rice cultivation culture in
the Yangtze River civilization had suddenly disappeared for approximately
300 years. It has been postulated that a rapid and sizeable cooling event may have
damaged the rice cultivation culture and contributed to the collapse of the Yangtze
delta society and the subsequent fall of the Yangtze civilization (Kajita et al. 2018).
Based on Chinese history, it appears that the warm period is better for economic
development and social stability than a cold period. At the same time, in the past
2000 years, the decline of most dynasties and the corresponding phenomenon of the
low-temperature range has not been coincidence. However, we cannot conclude that
the rise and fall of dynasties are entirely a result of climate change; many reasons
affect the course of history, with climate being one factor. Due to the political
corruption of the feudal dynasty itself, coupled with the poor harvest and starvation
from low temperatures, peasant uprisings and wars may be triggered, leading to
changing dynasties. During cold periods, the southward migration of grassland
pastures will also lead to the invasion and southward migration of northern nomads
(Liu 2009).
12
W. Zhou