4. The documentary “Catastrophe” shows how changes in the climate had a trickle down affect to the environment and the course of human history. One of the first places we look for evidence of a major climatic change is in the rings of trees. The wider the rings in a tree the greater the growth indicating favorable climatic conditions and the smaller the rings the less favorable climate. According to tree rings from the mid 16 th century, there was a dramatic change in the seasonal patterns indicating missed summers and extended winters. This is also supported by ancient writings of John of Aphesis and others in 535-538 AD. Catastrophe

5. Catastrophe So, what caused this change in the weather, volcanic activity, asteroid or comet impact? It is most likely that a catastrophic volcanic event somewhere in South East Asia led to the change in weather and seasonal patterns over the entire earth much like what a “nuclear winter” might have. The increase on cloud cover decreased evaporation, decreasing rain leading to drought. Once the effects of this climatic change were over the subsequent increase in rain lead to massive flooding and conditions ripe for disease and even plagues. The take home point is that this major climatic change also had a significant effect on human history. People starved and migrated in search of food. Major disease devastated the population. Traditionally strong empires where conquered by their neighbors leading to major shifts in global power and gave rise to new religions whose followers were looking for hope. This all changed the world forever and contributed directly to how we are today.

8. Lost Cities of the Amazon There is evidence that suggests that this is how it could have been 1500 years ago. With some 19 villages arranged in two large clusters with a hub and spoke type configuration. The villages where one half to two miles apart connected by straight roadways as much as 150 feet wide and some with curbs and other features that suggest a very complex design and sophisticated knowledge of mathematics and other sciences. This is according to Michael J. Heckenberger an archeologist from the University of Florida who has led research in the area.

13. The European Voyages and How the World Changes The Columbian Exchange *An export from the Americas to the old world was the potato and this was a game changer. Tubers are easily grown and cultivated and are a nutrient dense food. Columbus brought back potatoes to Europe and it soon became a staple of the poor and working class. It was especially important in Ireland where it accounted for a sharp increase in the population. But in 1845, the great potato famine devastated Ireland and in just a few years so many people died that bodies where buried in mass graves. This event drove many Irish to immigrate to America thus starting the tradition of Irish political involvement. *Sugar cane was mostly responsible for the increase in slave labor needed to harvest and grow the cane in the Caribbean for the Europeans. *Corn was a important crop because it facilitated the slave transportation out of Africa and to the Americas, Europe and the Caribbean. *Is responsible for the bringing together of the old and new worlds through the importing and exporting of foods and animals that facilitated the dynamic increase of human population and technological advances never before seen in human history. *It started with the introduction of horses into South America by Columbus on his third trip, his first actual landing on the South American continent. The horses soon migrated to North America and the Great Native American horse culture, short though it was, began. *Unfortunately, this was the beginning of the end. Cattle soon rained supreme and the buffalo was nearly extinct in just one generation. Along with the decrease in the buffalo population, the Indian population decreased as well.