Introduction

Abstract

The research of the last few decades to uncover traces of past El Niños has opened up an opportunity to explore how El Niño impacted on societies in the past. El Niño or La Niña could plunge a society into great difficulties, radically reduce population numbers, or even destroy it altogether. The ways that societies have understood these extremes have also always changed and these understandings have themselves had implications. To present a full picture of the role of El Niño in world history it is necessary to address both the effects of El Niño on society and the changing ideas of what El Niño constitutes. This book sets out to elucidate both of these histories, represented by the writings of two authors.