Apparently climate change is not just a matter of modern civilization. Scientists claim climate change is responsible for the collapse of the Roman Empire.
Researchers used the growth of tree circles to study the effects of climate pattern instability. The results of the study seem to be associated with several historical events, including the fall of the Roman Empire and the 30-Year War.
Ulf Buntgen of the Swiss Federal Institute for Forests, Snow and Landscapes, who co-authored the research report claimed, "If we retreat 2,500 years there are instances that climate change has an impact on human history."
In this study researchers reconstructed the history of European summer climate for 2,500 years using wooden artifacts. The results of the study are based on measurements of tree circles from live tree samples in the regions of Germany, France, Italy and Austria.
In good seasons, where water and nutrients abound, trees form a wide circle pattern. But on the other hand, in the not-so-good condition, the created circle is much closer to each other.
"Warm and wet summers occurred during the times of Roman and medieval prosperity. But the rising climate in 250-600 coincided with the destruction of the Roman Empire and the unrest in the migration period, "the report said, as quoted by the Telegraph.
"(Meanwhile) drought in the 3rd century parallels the period of crisis in the era of the Roman Empire marked by the barbarian invasion, political unrest and economic dislocation in some of the Gaul provinces."
Buntgen hopes the discovery will be a warning to the world community to pay more attention to climate change in the future. "These results will help us be more alert and realize that modern civilization is not immune from climate change," he said.