Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Fall of the Roman Republic and rise of the Empire may have been triggered by a massive volcanic eruption in Alaska in 43 BC that set off a global climate shock leading to famine and unrest
UK Daily Mail ^ | June 23, 2020 | Jonathan Chadwick

Posted on 06/23/2020 2:49:29 AM PDT by C19fan

Scientists say a massive volcanic eruption in Alaska more than 2,500 years ago triggered a global climate shock on the other side of the Earth that led to the fall of the Roman Republic. The eruption of Mount Okmok on an Alaskan island in the year 43 BC – an event known as 'Okmok II' – spewed ash particles that cooled the planet by shading incoming solar radiation. Scientists say this caused with a spell of extreme cold in the Mediterranean during the European summer – the second-coldest of the last 2,500 years.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: alaska; catastrophism; godsgravesglyphs; juliuscaesar; mountokmok; mtokmok; okmok; okmokii; omokii; roman; romanempire; volcano
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-34 last
To: rollo tomasi

In the ancient world, even when food shortages or famine were vaguely blamed on “the gods,” they often resulted in assassinations, coups, riots, revolution, or war. Chinese history is also instructive, with good times said to represent the “mandate of heaven” for an emperor, and bad times and hunger said to show the loss of divine sanction and to provide a basis for rebellion. And the connection between cold weather harvest failures and the French Revolution is well-established in modern history.


21 posted on 06/23/2020 6:14:19 AM PDT by Rockingham
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: ptsal

I’d worry more about the 8 or 9 volcanoes in the Cascades than the Yellowstone caldera.


22 posted on 06/23/2020 7:41:46 AM PDT by zaxtres
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: C19fan

I blame the Gracchi brothers. Well-intentioned, but demagogues nonetheless.


23 posted on 06/23/2020 7:48:29 AM PDT by RedStateRocker (Nuke Mecca. Deport all illegals. Abolish the DEA, IRS and ATF,.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Rockingham
Some “had” to die for “something”/scapegoating, however, civilizations/systems still thrived if midst of miserable weather occurrences if the foundation was stable enough.

If not, a good excuse to rebel and uproot the order.

24 posted on 06/23/2020 9:04:33 AM PDT by rollo tomasi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: 21twelve; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; 31R1O; ...
Thanks 21twelve.

25 posted on 06/23/2020 10:36:15 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: 75thOVI; Abathar; agrace; aimhigh; Alice in Wonderland; AnalogReigns; AndrewC; aragorn; ...
With an Okmok here, and an Okmok there, here an ok, there a mok, everywhere an Okmok...

26 posted on 06/23/2020 10:37:59 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: ptsal

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3853084/posts


27 posted on 06/23/2020 10:39:47 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: C19fan

The Republic fell because the senate got corrupt to the point of stupid.


28 posted on 06/23/2020 12:24:33 PM PDT by Grimmy (equivocation is but the first step along the road to capitulation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Flick Lives

“Don’t know if you may be referring to the Mike Duncan “History of Rome” podcast; a most excellent series.”

How does one find a podcast?


29 posted on 06/23/2020 1:31:04 PM PDT by dsc (As for the foundations of the Catholic faith, this pontificate is an outrage to reason.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: C19fan

A useful tool to process any historical circumstance such as the collapse of the Roman Republic is “political efficacy.”

The “efficacious” political system 1) provides for the needs of the people; and 2) responds to their will.

The Romans were obsessed with Tradition and Law (and war), which yielded incredible growth, prosperity, and a continually wider distribution of power. But following the Punic Wars, the needs of expansion clashed with its benefits, which neither tradition nor law could accommodate. In terms of political efficacy, both the Senate and the Tribunates failed to respond to the changing conditions and popular demands.

Instead, the laws became more rigid while violations of it became more rampant, viz. Gracchi bros. Each continuing episode yielded more law and more violations thereof. For example, Sulla codified the cursus honorum, which was previously followed by tradition, especially regarding age limits for the various offices. However, by codifying it, Sulla instead installed the basis for its violation by Pompey, whose ambition far outran his age, but whose ambition was fueled by the popularity of his conquests.

There’s truly no comparable place or time to this period, but the American Founders fully understood its implications and created a system that has allowed for dissent, adjustment, and continuity — so far.


30 posted on 06/23/2020 2:58:25 PM PDT by nicollo (I said no!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dsc

“Don’t know if you may be referring to the Mike Duncan “History of Rome” podcast; a most excellent series.”

How does one find a podcast?

Go to iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-history-of-rome/id261654474


31 posted on 06/23/2020 3:44:28 PM PDT by Flick Lives (My work's illegal, but at least it's honest. - Capt. Malcolm Reynolds)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Interesting. Add it into the AGW models.


32 posted on 06/23/2020 4:52:36 PM PDT by ThanhPhero
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Flick Lives

Thanks.


33 posted on 06/23/2020 7:42:26 PM PDT by dsc (As for the foundations of the Catholic faith, this pontificate is an outrage to reason.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]


34 posted on 06/24/2020 11:03:36 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-34 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson