1. The Little Ice Age
PATRICIA FONSECA FEBRUARY 2, 2012
HISTORY OF THE AMERICAS SINCE 1800
HISTORY 141 COURSE #31136
PROFESSOR ARGUELLO

2. The little Ice Age
• The Little Ice Age raged from the 14th-19th
centuries.
• It was a period of cooling temperatures that
brought unpredictable climate shifts.
• New England experienced two feet of snow in
June and July.
• New York Harbor froze over.
• Eskimos were able to sail to Scotland.
• Birds would fall to the Earth as they died from
the cold temperatures.
• People froze to death at the beginning of
September.

3. The Little Ice Age
• The Little Ice Age came after the Dark Ages.
• After the Dark Ages had ended, people were starting to
experience a period of prosperity.
• Sustainable life greatly depended on crops.
• Europe greatly depended on cereal crops but in this
changing climate they were decimated.
• This greatly devastated peasants.
• It’s estimated that certain areas were
experienced up to 1.5 million related
deaths.

4. The Little Ice Age
• Vikings had settled in Greenland during
warmer climates and vegetation was good.
• The cooler climate ruined vegetation and
the animals that were food sources
suffered.
• The supplies that were shipped from
England were cut off as the water froze.
• The Inuit were skilled fisherman and
crafted tools to be able to fish through the
frozen water to survive.
• The Vikings of Greenland died off.

5. The Little Ice Age
• Before the Little Ice Age, disease had been dying
down and populations were increasing. As the
weather turned colder, famine and disease raged.
• In Europe, 5 years of continuous rain eroded crops.
• The bubonic plague decreased the population by
1/3.
• France alone experienced 111 famines.
• In Russia, 500,000 people starved to death.
• Ireland was further devastated by the 5 years of the
potato famine.
• Crime increased as people formed riots in the
streets and raided food carts. People looted and
vandalized towns. Ships were seized for food.
• People were hysterical and with hunts ensued.

6. Works Cited
S.C., Porter. “Little Ice Age” Wikipedia.org. 27 January 2012.
“Little Ice Age: Big Chill.” HistoryChannel.com. A&E Television Network, 2005. Film.