Projekt

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The Dantean Anomaly (1309-21) was a period of rapid climatic change regarded as the 'tipping point' of the Little Ice Age. From a perspective of climate history, certain underresearched regions in Italy, France and Central Europe offer an abundance of administrative and narrative sources. The aim is to reconstruct extreme meteorological events like torrential rain and their socio-economic impact, but also to clarify the vulnerability/resilience of societies. These depended largely on economic, cultural and political preconditions of the respective communities. A point of reference for all case studies is scientific data, which will correct/enhance the documentary data. The Freigeist project will contribute significantly to the emerging climate-historical paradigm. A transregional comparison will clarify the importance of natural factors in the crisis of the 14th century and underline the importance of the humanities in reconstructing and understanding past climate change. Results will be contrasted with comparable phenomena from Southeast Asia; so the global dimension of the late medieval climatic deterioration will encourage further questions with regard to the consequences for the societies afflicted. The project aims to contribute significantly to a pre-modern global environmental history and will provide a deeper understanding of past and present-day extreme weather.

• Dr. Martin Bauch

  Leibniz-Institut für Geschichte und
  Kultur des östlichen Europa (GWZO) e.V.
  Abteilung Mensch und Umwelt
  Forschungsgruppe "Dantean Anomaly"
  Leipzig
  

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