Abstract
Driven by the challenge of anthropogenic climate change, the reconstruction of the Holocene climate has brought historians and archaeologists new insights into the human past. We are learning that the instability of the Earth system has played an important role in human history. But to truly measure the role played by the environment in the past, and thus be able to project its possible effects into the future, we need to consider not only the climate, but also human society as a complex system. This system can sometimes be resistant to disturbance, and sometimes sensitive to rapid change, with cascading effects. This knowledge will help citizens and political decision-makers to assess the risks facing contemporary society. In short, integrating the natural sciences into the study of human history can enrich our understanding of both past and present.
