Historical Course Follows Climate Change: Patterns of the Northern Hemisphere — From Peoples’ Migration until the Industrial Revolution (3^rd-18^thCentury)

This paper relates to the statement that the so-called “Little Ice Age” (RCC 6: 1.350-1.800 A.D.) represents—besides the 8k-Event (8.200-8.000 yr cal. B.P.)—the fastest and strongest onset in Holocene History [1]. Its intention focuses on the correlation of interplaying natural processes (i.e. solar energy variation, aerosols, oceanic currents, volcanism as part of plate tectonics, heat flow) with social/political evidence through the time-span of Peoples’ Migration until Industrial Revolution (3rd-18th Century). The time-span comprises the cool/wet/respectively dry climate phase of the P.M. (260-550), a Climate Optimum (600-1.100 A.D.) owning a final Thermal Maximum (1.100-1.260 A.D.) and the “little Ice Age” (1.350-1.800 A.D.), the latter intercalated by the Spörer Minimum (1.460-1.550 A.D.) and the Maunder Minimum (1.650-1.720 A.D.). Thereby, an average temperature difference of 1.0°C - 2.0°C seems sufficient for incising climatic/cultural consequences [2]. It has become obvious that a Climate Optimum primarily provides constructive life conditions;however with a problematic final as the following “Effect-Chain” tells: balanced agricultural/cultural population growth → rich harvests → satisfying nourishment → health, encouragement → overpopulation under favorable materialistic conditions → increasing stress → lack of food, high prices → revolts → migration. In contrast, cool/wet/resp. dry conditions originate destructive/depressive conditions (see Peoples’ Migration) which initiate the following “Effect Chain”: bad agricultural conditions → poor/no harvesting → famine → disease, growing death rate → social, political revolts, wars → human cruelties with psychic/religious background (inquisition, witch-combustion → general chaos (30 yr-war) → death, migration (maritime endeavors, colonization). Furthermore, it should be stressed that volcanic aerosols play besides the solar influx variation—an important role on climate/cultural change [3]. However, the effects of oceanic currents’ heat flow of Mid-Oceanic Ridges and Hot Spots, as well as Earth-Magnetism and Sun/Earth Geometry are poorly understood in this context (Example: Iceland as hot spot situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge having been working since 40 Ma). The Chapter-introducing citations play a challenging role in regard to Science Criticism and touch the so-called 95% Confidence line (accepted realm of causal interrelation and according recommendation to Society [4]).

The Political and Social Influences of the West ‘Us’ in the Arab World ‘Others’

Western influence is the upshot of two centuries of Western dominance.Their position of power has undermined the prerogatives of many nations,which is evident in the West pushing certain political and cultural ideals.Their privileged and powerful political and cultural status and the superiority of their civilization led them to view the rest of the world as‘Others’,being politically,and culturally inferior.This is what made the West identify the policy and the economy in the world and impose the liberal democracy and the Western social and cultural patterns on‘others’,rendering them as parameters for civilization and political development.In this paper,we will focus on the influence of the West‘Us’on the Arab world‘Others’and the political and social effects it has had in the region.The current study is twofold.Firstly,we will look at the recent development of the Arab world in current events,which are largely driven by Western interference in the region.The second factor is the erosion of the Arab heritage amid the wide adoption of Western cultures,and its social and political impact.

Explaining Hong Kong Students’International Achievement in Civic Learning

This study identifies predictors of Hong Kong students’civic learning.It has adopted a cross-sectional quantitative design using secondary data from the 2009 International Civics and Citizenship Education Study(ICCS 2009;Schulz et al.,2010).Multi-level analysis reveals that most of the variance in student achievement can be accounted for by school level rather than individual level factors.Student background variables are largely insignificant suggesting the resilience of many Hong Kong students.Regarding Hong Kong students’achievements in civic learning,a possible explanation is made and implications are developed for both theory and practice.