The Little Ice Age was a climatic period, lasting from about 1300 to 1750, when
worldwide temperatures cooled slightly, leading to extreme weather that, in turn,
affected the colonizing
ventures of Europeans in America. Before their arrival, Europeans assumed America's
climate would match that of lands situated along the same lines of latitude
elsewhere. Instead, the New World was both hotter and colder than they expected. And
as a result of the Little Ice Age, the weather was marked by wet springs that led to
flooding, hot summers that led to long droughts, and particularly cold winters.
Scientists disagree over the causes of the Little Ice Age, although an environmental
scientist at the University of Virginia has pointed the finger at human activity.
Regardless, scientists agree that the effect on weather was pronounced. In January
1607, a massive flood struck southwestern England even as the Thames River was frozen
over. Both the areas around Roanoke
and Jamestown were suffering from
millennial droughts when the colonists arrived demanding food from local Indian
populations. The resulting scarcity of food contributed to disease and conflict, both
of which ended the venture at Roanoke and threatened the survival of Jamestown.
Thu, 16 May 2013 14:19:15 EST
Thu, 16 May 2013 14:19:15 EST