The Muslim expansion in the Mediterranean basin was a significant cultural shift. This study compiles western Mediterranean pollen records to understand past climate conditions during the 8th-century CE replacement of the Visigothic Kingdom by the Muslim Umayyad Caliphate. The pollen data, along with paleohydrological records and historical sources, indicate strong droughts (545–570, 695–725, 755–770, and 900–935 CE) that may have contributed to the instability of both kingdoms, highlighting the sensitivity of early medieval agriculture-based economies and socio-political structures to climate variations.
Publisher
Nature Communications
Published On
Sep 15, 2023
Authors
Jon Camuera, Francisco J. Jiménez-Espejo, José Soto-Chica, Gonzalo Jiménez-Moreno, Antonio García-Alix, María J. Ramos-Román, Leena Ruha, Manuel Castro-Priego
Tags
Muslim expansion
Mediterranean basin
climate conditions
droughts
agriculture
socio-political structures
Visigothic Kingdom
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