Explores the latest historical research on the development of the earth's climate, showing how even minor changes in the climate could result in major social, political, and religious upheavals.

"First published in German as Kulturgeschichte des Klimas © Verlag C.H. Beck oHG, München, 2007"--T.p. verso.

What do we know about the climate? Sources of climate history ; Causes of climate change ; The Palaeoclimate since the formation of the planet -- Global warming : the Holocene. Children of the ice age ; Global warming and civilization ; From Roman optimum to medieval warm period -- Global cooling : the little ice age. The concept of the little ice age ; The changing environment ; Dance of death ; Winter blues -- Cultural consequences of the little ice age. The wrathful God ; Sin economics as the motor of change ; The cool sun of reason -- Global warming : the modern warm period. Apparent uncoupling from the forces of nature ; The discovery of global warming ; Reactions to climate change -- Epilogue : sins against the environment and greenhouse climate.