Student assignment. (requirement for course by Peter Kabai)

The Danube floods in the 14^th to 17^th century

Reviewed by: Lina Björnlund

Foreword

I have chosen to review about the Danube flooding in the 14^th to 17^th century, it interests me how the human reaction has been to what it is now and how much damaged it caused in the early days.

Introduction

There is lacking information of any studies on floods in late medieval, early modern and modern Austria. The studies on climate history deal with the times from the beginning of systematic measurement of temperature and water level during second half of 18^th century.

The analysis is based on the study of natural hazards such as floods, earthquakes, which were common to people living near the flood, animal plague excluding diseases and epidemics.

The article is bring up the cultural response to the floods, whether the floods was of expectation more than of religious beliefs.

This article has taken to account historical meteorology, hydragraphy, archaeological and geographical studies and historical analysis of written and pictioral sources.

A natural disaster

In nature there are only natural events, it is us humans whom make them a disaster.

To determine a disaster:

- Helplessness of people trying to cope with the damage

- Helplessness not only coping with the disaster but in explaining it

- Direct or indirect suffering

- Unexpectedness of the event

The millennium flood in 1501

The largest flooding of the Danube River, close to Bavaria, happened in 1501. The flood lasted for 10 days and flooding was due to heavy rainfall. The flood rose higher than in any time, 2 m higher than in 1954 and 2002. Grain and hay, which was going to be harvested, was destroyed. People did not know how to explain the flooding but they had understanding in the different ways that the flood could grow. The flood of 1501 was not set to have no connection with comets or other astronomic signs.

In the 14^th century a star called comet, seen for 80 days without interruption, was announced to bring great famine, big disease, high mortality and corruption of air and heavy storms. In 1316 and 1317 there was a large flood and famine was followed. In the beginning of the 14^th century flood was connected to biblical great floods.

Management of the people

The flood of 1501 helped people to get a better understanding in how to prevent future floods, and also gave them comfort that it had been worse.

The flooding usually happened either in February and March due to snow-melt or in June and August due to heavy rainfall. This became a kind of warning system for the people, and when a flood hit, only buildings and fields were destroyed.

People started building tax houses and buildings for administration on higher grounds, no windows on first floor. The tax-interest of citizens was reduced and money was spent for dikes and other water defenses. Landowners had to admit construction of water defense on their properties. Bridge masters were established. This tells us that there was a collective management of the floods.

Due to the frequent building of bridges timber and oak-stems became rare and expensive, people were forbidden to take drifting timber for own purposes. The economy of the village was affected.

The major floods also caused hygienic problems, lower floors of houses were flooded and supply of drinking water was interrupted.

Recent affects on the flooding of the Danube

The flood of 2006 was due to heavy rainfall, and it has been the worst flooding in over 100 years.

The flood have killed over 100 people and caused damages to as much as $20 billion. There have been thousands of people evacuated from northern Austria living by the Danube.

The ongoing flooding in Romania has been said to be due to mismanagement, bad planning of the land along the riverside. A coordinated flood management whereas working with nature not against it is needed.

Conclusion

In the 14^th to 17^th centuries, flood was caused by natural events. People believed for a long time that it had to do with astrology and biblical beliefs. In knowing that it was a natural cause might have helped in preventing the flooding. The flood in 1501 was a start for the people in gaining understanding and preventing of future floods.

Whereas to we look at the present times and the management of flooding, it has not improved that much. Maybe learning and preventing a natural disaster is not that simple, this is a problem that has to taken seriously. An unexpected flood is the common link between the 14^th to 17^th century and present day. Maybe a flooding will always be unexpected, even though the methods of preventing a flood has been improved, we have a lot more to learn.

References

See article written by Christian Rohr (2004): The Danube floods and their human response and perception 
(14^th to 17^th C), Department of History and political science, university of Salzburg, Austria.

http://www.meteohistory.org/2005historyofmeteorology2/06rohr.pdf

http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_rec.php?id=3684

http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/europe/where/austria/index.cfm?uNewsID=67080

Pictures from google image: http://images.google.com/images?q=danube+flooding&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images

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The Danube floods in the 14^th to 17^th century Reviewed by: Lina Björnlund Foreword I have chosen to review about the Danube flooding in the 14^th to 17^th century, it interests me how the human reaction has been to what it is now and how much damaged it caused in the early days. Introduction There is lacking information of any studies on floods in late medieval, early modern and modern Austria. The studies on climate history deal with the times from the beginning of systematic measurement of temperature and water level during second half of 18^th century. The analysis is based on the study of natural hazards such as floods, earthquakes, which were common to people living near the flood, animal plague excluding diseases and epidemics. The article is bring up the cultural response to the floods, whether the floods was of expectation more than of religious beliefs. This article has taken to account historical meteorology, hydragraphy, archaeological and geographical studies and historical analysis of written and pictioral sources. A natural disaster In nature there are only natural events, it is us humans whom make them a disaster. To determine a disaster: - Helplessness of people trying to cope with the damage - Helplessness not only coping with the disaster but in explaining it - Direct or indirect suffering - Unexpectedness of the event The millennium flood in 1501 The largest flooding of the Danube River, close to Bavaria, happened in 1501. The flood lasted for 10 days and flooding was due to heavy rainfall. The flood rose higher than in any time, 2 m higher than in 1954 and 2002. Grain and hay, which was going to be harvested, was destroyed. People did not know how to explain the flooding but they had understanding in the different ways that the flood could grow. The flood of 1501 was not set to have no connection with comets or other astronomic signs. In the 14^th century a star called comet, seen for 80 days without interruption, was announced to bring great famine, big disease, high mortality and corruption of air and heavy storms. In 1316 and 1317 there was a large flood and famine was followed. In the beginning of the 14^th century flood was connected to biblical great floods. Management of the people The flood of 1501 helped people to get a better understanding in how to prevent future floods, and also gave them comfort that it had been worse. The flooding usually happened either in February and March due to snow-melt or in June and August due to heavy rainfall. This became a kind of warning system for the people, and when a flood hit, only buildings and fields were destroyed. People started building tax houses and buildings for administration on higher grounds, no windows on first floor. The tax-interest of citizens was reduced and money was spent for dikes and other water defenses. Landowners had to admit construction of water defense on their properties. Bridge masters were established. This tells us that there was a collective management of the floods. Due to the frequent building of bridges timber and oak-stems became rare and expensive, people were forbidden to take drifting timber for own purposes. The economy of the village was affected. The major floods also caused hygienic problems, lower floors of houses were flooded and supply of drinking water was interrupted. Recent affects on the flooding of the Danube The flood of 2006 was due to heavy rainfall, and it has been the worst flooding in over 100 years. The flood have killed over 100 people and caused damages to as much as $20 billion. There have been thousands of people evacuated from northern Austria living by the Danube. The ongoing flooding in Romania has been said to be due to mismanagement, bad planning of the land along the riverside. A coordinated flood management whereas working with nature not against it is needed. Conclusion In the 14^th to 17^th centuries, flood was caused by natural events. People believed for a long time that it had to do with astrology and biblical beliefs. In knowing that it was a natural cause might have helped in preventing the flooding. The flood in 1501 was a start for the people in gaining understanding and preventing of future floods. Whereas to we look at the present times and the management of flooding, it has not improved that much. Maybe learning and preventing a natural disaster is not that simple, this is a problem that has to taken seriously. An unexpected flood is the common link between the 14^th to 17^th century and present day. Maybe a flooding will always be unexpected, even though the methods of preventing a flood has been improved, we have a lot more to learn. References See article written by Christian Rohr (2004): The Danube floods and their human response and perception (14^th to 17^th C), Department of History and political science, university of Salzburg, Austria. http://www.meteohistory.org/2005historyofmeteorology2/06rohr.pdf http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_rec.php?id=3684 http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/europe/where/austria/index.cfm?uNewsID=67080 Pictures from google image: http://images.google.com/images?q=danube+flooding&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images

Notes (if any) by Peter Kabai: