American scientists have put forward a new hypothesis about the reasons for the collapse of the Roman Republic and the emergence of the Empire. In their opinion, a significant role in this process played a powerful volcanic eruption Okmok in Alaska in 43 BC.
About the study tells the journal Science. It was conducted by an interdisciplinary team of scientists. The story of the collapse of the Roman Republic, it would seem that well researched. From written sources it is known that for a long time the state has experienced political and economic difficulties.
the Ancient historians also talked about the mysterious disappearance of the Sun after the murder of Julius Caesar in 44 BC, followed by years of cold and crop failure. The struggle for power, which resulted in the sole reign of the first Emperor Octavian Augustus, the adopted son of Caesar.
Political infighting is still called the main reasons for the emergence of the Empire. However, in the new study, scientists argue that the true reason for the Rome event was in Alaska. In ‘ 43 was one of the most powerful in the history of eruptions – volcano awoke Okmok in the Aleutian Islands.
After the explosion formed a crater with a width of 10 kilometers. The location of the volcano is such that they are ejected masses could rise in the Arctic stratosphere and then spread across the Northern hemisphere, closing itself the sun’s light.
“We can absolutely right to say today that this eruption created an extreme climate, says the study’s lead author, glaciologist Joseph McConnell. It really could lead to starvation and other destruction in Europe. The collapse of the Republic occurred in those two years, when there was this climate. We think it unlikely that it’s just a coincidence”.
cold and Hunger provoked armed conflicts in the Republic. There is the need for a strong Central authority. And when she appeared, the climate began to warm up – the volcanic dust gradually settled on the surface, re-opening the path of the sun.
as proof, the researchers cited the results of the analysis of opaque sulfate particles taken from deep ice cores in Greenland. Previous work showed that these particles were ejected during a powerful eruption. The mystery remains only the exact location and timing of the eruption.
Team McConnell found that the increased presence of sulfur in the cores occurred in 43 BC. Measurements of isotopes showed that these particles were exposed to ultraviolet radiation in the stratosphere. They could stay in the air for many months and even years, before settling on the surface.
the Researchers found 35 of shards of volcanic glass. Its composition comparedNeely with geochemical “fingerprints” of volcanoes, which could theoretically erupt at that time. So scientists came to Okmok – shield volcano, which remains active today.
the Climate model showed that the effect from the eruption could be powerful – the air temperature in the South of Europe and North Africa, could drop to seven degrees Celsius. The finishing touch was the analysis of tree rings, which confirmed that in 43 and 42 BC in Scandinavia and North America had been a strong cold.
By the way, cold weather is mentioned in the letters of Cicero, Roman statesman, whose death in 42 BC, is regarded as the symbolic end of the Republic. Plutarch, the famous Roman biographer, wrote that the army of Mark Antony was faced with a terrible famine in April 43 BC, which has had even the bark. But the historian Appian wrote that Rome was ravaged by famine in 42 BC. By the way, the hunger in the same year, struck and Egypt.
