Posted on 05/28/2016 12:05:00 PM PDT by nickcarraway
It has mystified historians ever since. After a string of major victories, the Mongol army suddenly retreated from central Europe in 1242.
Some scholars claim Mongolian politics forced the withdrawal, while others credit the strength of fortified towns in present-day Hungary and Croatia. But Europe could have been rescued by its own bad weather, an analysis of tree rings and historical documents concludes.
The Mongol cavalry fed its horses on the grass of the Eurasian steppe, says Nicola Di Cosmo of Princeton University, one of the studys authors. A warm climate in the early 1200s helped make the grasslands lush and this, in turn, helped the Mongols extend their empire into Russia, he says.
In 1241, the Mongol army reached the plains western limit in Hungary. Led by Genghis Khans grandson Batu, the Mongols crushed the Polish and Hungarian armies on open, flat terrain that suited their mobile warfare tactics.
They were familiar with that environment, says Di Cosmo. What they didnt know is how prone to flooding that particular area was.
Huge swamp Compared with the rest of the steppe, Hungary has a high water table so it floods easily.
Analysing tree rings in the region, Di Cosmo and his colleagues found that Hungary had a cold, wet winter in early 1242. This probably turned Hungarys central plain into a huge swamp.
Historical documents the team studied back up this claim, recording, for example, that melting snows kept the Mongol army from attacking a Hungarian castle surrounded by marshes.
Lacking pasture for its horses, the Mongols fell back to drier highlands and then to Russia in search of better grass.
While climate wasnt the only factor in the reteat, it would be a mistake to ignore it, says Di Cosmo. Its like saying the winter in Russia had no effect on Napoleons army, he says.
Michael Mann of Pennsylvania State University, University Park, says the study is interesting, but he warns against over-interpreting the influence of climate on historic events. Im sceptical that such climate determinism holds nearly as universally as some authors seem to think, he says. The changes in weather the study reported seemed modest, he says.
But Aaron Putnam of the University of Maine in Orono says that the study steered clear of determinism, taking into account all potential factors. I think its convincing, he says. The previous explanations of the Mongol withdrawal didnt add up.
Horse logistics limited the Mongols, Putnam says. They were incredibly technologically savvy, but they got into a place where horses just didnt do well.
Putnam says that natural weather records like tree rings have much more to tell us about the history of premodern civilisations, which depended heavily on environmental conditions. Its just an incredible archive.
Very cool pic! Love the heraldry.
Modern time bad weather in Europe seems not to discourage diversity folks from pour into Europe though.
LOL.
Well they did stay around long enough to get frisky with the locals. Being Hungarian it’s in my DNA (did that DNA thing with Ancestry).
Ping
What else are you going to do during bad weather?
“Michael Mann of Pennsylvania State University, University Park, says the study is interesting, but he warns against over-interpreting the influence of climate on historic events. Im sceptical that such climate determinism holds nearly as universally as some authors seem to think, he says. The changes in weather the study reported seemed modest, he says.”
All the sudden Michael Mann is skeptical about extending a shake scientific theory? Since when?
Also: I expect you to dress up as Genghis Khan next year. (Or Jingis Khan for Al Gore)
Climates change. Sometimes warmer, sometimes colder. It’s always been that way.
The Roman Empire flourished in a period that was warmer than our own.
The Middle Ages flourished in a period that was warmer than our own.
As climates cool off, civilizations often suffer — it’s easier to deal with rising temperatures, but colder climates have large effects.
The Little Ice Age ended in 1850 or so, and temperatures may have risen since then, to our benefit.
The anti-human, anti-technology Leftists don’t understand any of this.
The article I saw at Business Insider had several related article link on global warming from man destroying the planet so I do not believe climate did anything to stop the “HORDE!” It was their leaders dying or fighting among themselves that stopped them.
Don’t think the Mongols ever reached Hungary. The blood line may came from the Attila the Hun, more than 1000 years ago before the Mongles
Have considered sending such a kit to Lia Watha or Fauxchohauntus or whatever name Warren’s claiming.
“Michael Mann of Pennsylvania State University ... warns against over-interpreting the influence of climate....”
Just unbelievable.
I should have read all the comments before posting. Oh well, why start now?
Spanish Exporers Gave up on Conquering America due to Donkey Kong glitch.
Didn’t Courtney Love once belong to a Thrash Rock group called “Mongol Whores”?//
“Modern time bad weather in Europe seems not to discourage diversity folks from pour into Europe though.”
Give it time. They haven’t been there all that long. They haven’t gotten a good taste of European weather yet...
:P
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