Changes

[[File:F8bc126e4916174fb46b10.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|Figure 1. Villages such as Banpo reveal an emerging food production economy that revolved around climate evolution.]]__NOTOC__Climate does not only sometimes push societies to leave their major cities, which some call collapse, but it also helps societies adjust to a new normal, where food production and even tastes begin to modify based on climate. This is evident in China, where ancient China often did not resemble more recent periods in regards to climate and environmental conditions. Nonetheless, these changes have enriched and brought different layers of social change on in Chinese society that have influenced modern China. We can see that modern societies are sometimes composed of layers of different past social but also environmental change that forges new social identities.

====Rise of Chinese Complex Societies and Climate====During the long Neolithic period in China (from around 8500-2000 BC), as agriculture began to develop, different types of societies and food production practices formed that focused on millet, in western and central China, and rice, which became more common in central and eastern China. In central China, in particular, evidence indicates a shift between millet and rice, where millet is a more hardy crop that can be cultivated in drier periods. In other provinces, there are shifts between rice cultivated in flood agriculture and a mixture of using rice and millet. Both taste and climate-induced changes are likely likelily co-occurring in the record, where communal and household-based strategies are also shifting in response to social and climate change that co-occurs. Many of these changes are apparent in central China because it is a region prone or more vulnerable to relatively minor shifts in the climate. Until recent period, millet is seen as the food one can use in periods of stress and drought in China, although now in some quarters millet is a more fashionable food than rice (Figure 1).<ref>For more on food production and shifts in Central China, see: Weisskopf, A., Deng, Z., Qin, L., & Fuller, D. Q. (2015). The interplay of millets and rice in Neolithic central China: Integrating phytoliths into the archaeobotany of Baligang. <i>Archaeological Research in Asia</i>, 4, 36–45.</ref>

Early Bronze Age Many of these changes are apparent in central China, at around 2200 BC, was characterised by widespread flooding according to legend. Yu the Great, because it is a legendary ruler, was purported region prone or more vulnerable to help manage relatively minor shifts in the great flooding that occurred at this timeclimate. There Until recent period, millet is climatic evidence, that by seen as the 4th millennium BCE food one can use in periods of stress and going into the 3rd millennium, there were shifts to the monsoon rainfall patterns that agriculture would have become more dependent on. Winter monsoons began to wane drought in this period but less predictable rainfall patterns may have resultedChina, which could have led to greater instances of flooding where rainfall amounts would vary more greatly from season to season rather than occurring although now in more predictable patterns. Water management, at this time, began to utilise some quarters millet is a series of earthworks, dams, and other irrigation features that likely attempted to mitigate the uncertainty and volatility associated with rainfall. Excess rainfall could be stored or forced into runoff to avoid catastrophic flooding. This likely helped areas such as along the Yellow River become more controllable and promote settlement along this river valley with greater population concentrations. This has been suggested as helping to give rise to the increased social complexity seen at the end of the third millennium BCE and going into the early dynasties of the 2nd millennium BCE. Effectively climatic shifts could have promoted settlement and increased social complexity as societies adapted to better control and manage less predictable rainsfashionable food than rice (Figure 1).<ref>For more on the rising social complexity food production and its relationship to water and rainfallshifts in Central China, see: Brooke Weisskopf, JA. , Deng, Z., Qin, L., & Fuller, D. Q. (20142015). The interplay of millets and rice in Neolithic central China: Integrating phytoliths into the archaeobotany of Baligang. <i>Climate Change and the Course of Global HistoryArchaeological Research in Asia</i>. West Nyack: Cambridge University Press, pg. 2954, 36–45.</ref>

[[File:F8bc126e4916174fb46b10Early Bronze Age China, at around 2200 BC, was characterized by widespread flooding according to legend.jpg|thumb|Figure 1Yu the Great, a legendary ruler, was purported to help manage the significant flooding that occurred at this time. Villages such as Banpo reveal an emerging food production economy There is climatic evidence, that revolved around climate evolutionby the 4th millennium BCE and going into the 3rd millennium, there were shifts to the monsoon rainfall patterns that agriculture would have become more dependent on. Winter monsoons began to wane in this period, but less predictable rainfall patterns may have resulted, which could have led to greater instances of flooding where rainfall amounts would vary more greatly from season to season rather than occurring in more predictable patterns.]]

==Chinese Dynasties and Empires==During the Shang Dyansty (1600-1000 BCE)Water management, researchers have stated the climate became generally warmer. However, there were periodic cooling and likely drier conditions in eastern China. At around 1100 BCat this time, the Shang became weaker as they had began to deal with more harvest failures. However, the Shang could have adapted to this and may have withstood such change. Rather, the Zhou, who conquered the Shang and who lived west utilize a series of the Shangearthworks, may have invaded as they felt their societies faced greater threats due to cooling conditions. In effectdams, the invasion and bellicose nature of the Zhou could be attributed to changing conditions other irrigation features that led likely attempted to more difficult harvests for them. The concept of the Mandate of Heaven, which formulated that a Chinese dynasty should maintain order in mitigate the world, including natural order affecting farming uncertainty and the environment, may have developed at this time as a way to legitimise rulersvolatility associated with rainfall. It Excess rainfall could also be used stored or forced into a runoff to blame rulers avoid catastrophic flooding. This likely helped areas such as climate conditions became along the Yellow River become more difficult, where rulers of China should upkeep the Mandate of Heavencontrollable and promote settlement along this river valley with greater population concentrations. This could have happened has been suggested as helping to give rise to the Zhou justified their rule due to increased social complexity seen at the failings end of the Shang, as conditions became more difficult. After the cooling at around 1100 third millennium BCE, climate likely returned to more favourable conditions and going into the Zhou may have become the long-lived dynasty in Chinese history in part due to more favourable conditions. The Zhou portrayed themselves as bringers early dynasties of stability, where during the 1st 2nd millennium BCE climate conditions did generally become stable. Effectively climatic shifts could have promoted settlement and increased social complexity as societies adapted to control better and manage less predictable rains.<ref>For more on the Shang rising social complexity and its relationship to water and Zhou rivalriesrainfall, see: MarksBrooke, RJ. L. (20122014). <i>China: its environment Climate Change and historythe Course of Global History</i>. LanhamWest Nyack: Cambridge University Press, Md: Rowman & Littlefieldpg. 295.</ref>

Nevertheless====Chinese Dynasties and Empires====[[File:King Kang of Zhou.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|Figure 2. King Kang of Zhou was seen as bringing a prosperous period to China, long-term warmer where favorable climate conditions did last until about 350 CE, covering nearly eight dynasties and ending around the Six Dynasties periodlikely helped. ]]During warmer periods, citrus, such as orangesthe Shang Dynasty (1600-1000 BCE), may researchers have made their way to China and began to be incorporated into dietsstated the climate became generally warmer. Subtropical herbs However, there were periodic cooling and spices were also likely introduced in periods when warmer drier conditions prevailed, as these plants were more easily grown in northern regions that allowed the major centres of eastern China. At around 1100 BC, such as the city of Chang'an in the Han Dynasty. After 350 CE, much colder conditions Shang became evident in northern China, weaker as they had to deal with much harsher wintersmore harvest failures. This may have led to the development of ice houses for the first timeHowever, which allowed better preservation of food and allowed it to be kept longer. This also likely led tastes in food to change back away from the subtropical foods that Shang could have been grown in other parts of China (Figure 2).<ref>For more on food adapted to this and technology related to climate, see: Chambers, Fmay have withstood such change.Rather, & Oglethe Zhou, M. (Eds.). (2002). <i>Climate change: critical concepts in who conquered the Shang and who lived west of the environment</i>. London ; New York: RoutledgeShang, may have invaded as they felt their societies faced greater threats due to cooling conditions.</ref>

[[File:King Kang In effect, the invasion and aggressive nature of the Zhoucould be attributed to changing conditions that led to more difficult harvests for them.jpg|thumb|Figure 2. King Kang The concept of the Mandate of Zhou was seen Heaven, which formulated that a Chinese dynasty should maintain order in the world, including natural order affecting farming and the environment, may have developed at this time as bringing a prosperous period way to legitimize rulers. It could also be used to blame rulers as climate conditions became more difficult, where rulers of Chinashould upkeep the Mandate of Heaven. This could have happened as the Zhou justified their rule due to the failings of the Shang, where favourable climate as conditions likely helpedbecame more difficult.]]

However, over the last two thousand years, as climate has become drier and colder in parts of eastern China, there has been greater evidence that this has led to more periodic locust, famine, and drought occurrences. There has also been higher incidents of epidemics when flood conditions become evident, presumably as bacteria thrive better in warmer and moister conditions.<ref>For more on the relationship between climate and epidemics and different events, see: Tian, H., Yan, C., Xu, L., Büntgen, U., Stenseth, N. C., & Zhang, Z. (2017). Scaledh-dependent climatic drivers of human epidemics in ancient China. <i>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</i>, 114(49), 12970–12975. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1706470114<ad/ref>

The Ming dynastyNevertheless, lasting long-term warmer conditions did last until 1644about 350 CE, began to experience greater difficulties in covering nearly eight dynasties and ending around the 16th and early 17th centuries as records showSix Dynasties period. Peasant rebellionsDuring warmer periods, citrus, perhaps triggered by poor harvestssuch as oranges, led may have made their way to the government being defeated China and ultimately collapsingbegan to be incorporated into diets. In earlier Subtropical herbs and spices were also likely introduced in periods that when warmer conditions prevailed, as these plants were more favourable climaticallyeasily grown in northern regions that allowed the major centers of China, a military farming system ensured such as the governmentcity of Chang's troops were well supplied and provisioned. However, that system began to fail already an in the 16th centuryHan Dynasty. During that timeAfter 350 CE, greater military expenditure was requiredmuch colder conditions became evident in northern China, showing that more money from the central government was needed with much harsher winters. This may have led to ensure the military's readiness. By development of ice houses for the early 17th century, the government was in crises as peasants were unable to pay their taxesfirst time, which were heavy to support the increased military expenditures, allowed better preservation of food and their harvests began allowed it to increasingly failbe kept longer. In effect, a system of military provision had collapsed, forcing the burden on peasants, who themselves were overtaxed and ultimately they revolted against This also likely led tastes in food to change back away from the government subtropical foods that had created the systemcould have been grown in other parts of China (Figure 2).<ref>For more on the Ming dynastyfood and technology related to climate, see: Zheng Chambers, JF., Xiao& Ogle, LM., Fang, X(Eds., Hao, Z., Ge, Q., & Li, B). (20142002). How climate change impacted the collapse of the Ming dynasty. <i>Climatic ChangeClimate change: critical concepts in the environment</i>, 127(2), 169–182. httpsLondon ; New York://doi.org/10Routledge.1007/s10584-014-1244-7</ref>

==Summary==More Recent Climate Change====Climate Overall, over the last two thousand years, the climate has played an important role continued the long-term drier and colder conditions in Chinese historyparts of eastern China, from affecting food taste where there is evidence this has led to changing society greater evidence for more periodic locust, famine, and leading to rebelliondrought occurrences. Climate does not always lead to social collapseThere has also been higher incidents of epidemics when flood conditions become evident, but it can lead to a chain reaction of presumably as bacteria thrive better in warmer and moister conditions.<ref>For more on the relationship between climate and epidemics and different events that have momentous change, see: Tian, H., Yan, C., Xu, L., Büntgen, U., Stenseth, N. C., & Zhang, Z. This includes dynasties being created or disease affecting the population(2017). What Scale-dependent climatic drivers of human epidemics in ancient China shows us is that climate has been a key background element in . <i>Proceedings of the evolution National Academy of societiesSciences</i>, 114(49), a lesson which we can take to heart in our own modern world12970–12975. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1706470114</ref>

Climate also affected politics over the last two thousand years. The Ming dynasty, lasting until 1644, began to experience greater difficulties in the 16th and early 17th centuries as records show. Peasant rebellions, perhaps triggered by poor harvests, led to the government being defeated and ultimately collapsing. In earlier periods that were more favorable climatically, a military farming system ensured the government's troops were well supplied and provisioned. However, that system began to fail already in the 16th century. During that time, greater military expenditure was required, showing that more money from the central government was needed to ensure the military's readiness. By the early 17th century, the government was in crises as peasants were unable to pay their taxes, which were heavy, to support the increased military expenditures. This loss of revenue was compounded by failed harvests that affected the peasants and government. In effect, a system of military provision had collapsed, forcing the burden on peasants, who themselves were overtaxed and ultimately they revolted against the government that had created the system in the first place.<ref>For more on the Ming dynasty, see: Zheng, J., Xiao, L., Fang, X., Hao, Z., Ge, Q., & Li, B. (2014). How climate change impacted the collapse of the Ming dynasty. <i>Climatic Change</i>, 127(2), 169–182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-014-1244-7</ref> ====Summary====Climate has played an important role in Chinese history, from affecting food taste to changing society and leading to rebellion. Climate does not always lead to social collapse, but it can lead to a chain reaction of events that have momentous change. This includes dynasties being created or disease affecting the population. What ancient China shows us is that climate has been a key background element in the evolution of societies, a lesson which we can take to heart in our modern world. ====References====<references/> [[Category:History of Science]][[Category:Chinese History]][[Category:Wikis]][[Category:Environmental History]]{{Contributors}}