In Europe, the period from the 16th to the 19th century was especially cold. In winter, canals in Holland regularly froze and Baltic ports were blocked with ice. This is commonly known as the Little Ice Age, and several causes have been proposed including low solar radiation. The sociocultural effects seem clear. The Dutch developed a talent for speed skating, which they retain to this day. Artists displayed a fondness for clouds and dark storms. Beer grew in popularity when vineyards failed. Persecution of women for witchcraft peaked since societies always seek someone to blame.
Then again, the line from cause to effect might simply be a figment of scholarly imagination. It’s fun to connect the dots, but not always sensible to do so. As Peter Frankopan, a professor of global history at Oxford, writes, “Identifying what effect cooler temperatures have on trends, fashions and even individual events … requires careful judgment.” Be careful about confusing coincidence with causation.
