Geoffrey Parker spent 15 years writing this ambitious history of the tumultuous 17th century, a period in the grip of what historians term the General Crisis (2013). Global Crisis posits that colder weather was a key reason why people of the 1600s lurched between droughts, famines, and countless wars which, combined with poor political decisions, spelled disaster for people, places, and societies worldwide. A 'fatal synergy' between climate change and arrogant rulers exacerbated and extended the crisis. Drawing together historical records, ground-breaking science, and case studies, Parker provides an epic account that shows how human affairs are inexorably tied to the environment.