When it was discovered that volcanoes in Alaska, Iceland and perhaps Russia erupted at the same time as the Nile was failing to flood, scientists became curious. This connection may explain why the Egyptian river was thrown so far out of it’s normal patterns for a three year period. This cool discovery shows the civil unrest in Egypt due to the famine may have been because of a volcano in Alaska.
In ancient times, it seems a volcanic eruption of enormous proportions disrupted the weather enough to affect a civilization halfway around the world.
Records show that there was a three year period where the Nile failed to flood its banks and the surrounding farmlands, robbing them of necessary moisture and nutrients. It seems the failure to flood is due to a lack of rainfall.
Ice core samples have shown a huge deposit of ash at this time. It is not possible to yet determine which volcano in Alaska erupted, but further studies may figure out the area more precisely.
Ash from the large volcanic eruption may have had a cooling effect on the planet and lowered temperatures. This may have led to less rain in Egypt and a lack flooding.
After the crops started to fail, hunger spread across the land. The lack of flooding led to famine and marked a turbulent period of civil unrest and revolts.
This fascinating connection was completely unknown, and incomprehensible, to the Egyptians at the time. However, understanding this global cooling phenomenon may have applications for the present day.
