Drought as a possible contributor to the Visigothic Kingdom crisis and Islamic expansion in the Iberian Peninsula

Jon Camuera (), Francisco J. Jiménez-Espejo (), José Soto-Chica, Gonzalo Jiménez-Moreno, Antonio García-Alix, María J. Ramos-Román, Leena Ruha and Manuel Castro-Priego
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Jon Camuera: Spanish National Research Council - University of Granada (CSIC-UGR)
Francisco J. Jiménez-Espejo: Spanish National Research Council - University of Granada (CSIC-UGR)
José Soto-Chica: University of Granada
Gonzalo Jiménez-Moreno: University of Granada
Antonio García-Alix: University of Granada
María J. Ramos-Román: Mid-Atlantic University
Leena Ruha: Natural Resources Institute Finland
Manuel Castro-Priego: University of Alcalá

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract The Muslim expansion in the Mediterranean basin was one the most relevant and rapid cultural changes in human history. This expansion reached the Iberian Peninsula with the replacement of the Visigothic Kingdom by the Muslim Umayyad Caliphate and the Muslim Emirate of Córdoba during the 8th century CE. In this study we made a compilation of western Mediterranean pollen records to gain insight about past climate conditions when this expansion took place. The pollen stack results, together with other paleohydrological records, archaeological data and historical sources, indicate that the statistically significant strongest droughts between the mid-5th and mid-10th centuries CE (450–950 CE) occurred at 545–570, 695–725, 755–770 and 900–935 CE, which could have contributed to the instability of the Visigothic and Muslim reigns in the Iberian Peninsula. Our study supports the great sensitivity of the agriculture-based economy and socio-political unrest of Early Medieval kingdoms to climatic variations.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41367-7

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