This source explores how natural events like climate shifts and volcanic eruptions have profoundly influenced human history, prompting societies to adapt and seek new opportunities. It features an interview with environmental and global historian Dr. Johannes Preiser-Capella, who discusses the medieval period, focusing on the well-connected world of 14th-century Florence and the merchant Francesco Pegolotti. The discussion highlights the complex interplay of natural phenomena—such as the Wolf Minimum (a period of low solar activity), massive floods, locust plagues, and earthquakes—and their impact on trade networks, society, and the spread of calamities like the Black Death. Ultimately, the source reveals how global interconnectedness, while facilitating trade and resilience, also accelerated the spread of crises, demonstrating that such links are a double-edged sword.
