Communications Earth & Environment (Nov 2021)

Volcanic climate impacts can act as ultimate and proximate causes of Chinese dynastic collapse

  • Chaochao Gao,
  • Francis Ludlow,
  • John A. Matthews,
  • Alexander R. Stine,
  • Alan Robock,
  • Yuqing Pan,
  • Richard Breen,
  • Brianán Nolan,
  • Michael Sigl

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00284-7
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Collapses of China’s ruling dynasties were associated with explosive volcanic eruptions over the past two millennia, with the degree of influence depending on pre-existing stress in society, as suggested by a systematic analysis of eruptions and Chinese warfare.