The famine of the Ming Dynasty in Shaanxi Province, China

Famine remains a persistent challenge in underdeveloped regions, exacerbated by natural disasters and other contributing factors. Insights from past famines are crucial for informing contemporary disaster management. The Little Ice Age intensified famine in Northwest China, offering an opportunity to investigate its geographical distribution and climate correlation. Nevertheless, research on famine as a social crisis has been limited, primarily concentrating on intergenerational and regional approaches. To bridge this gap, our study comprehensively analyzes spatiotemporal characteristics, environmental factors, social impacts, and climatic backgrounds of famine in Shaanxi during the Ming Dynasty (1368 1644 AD). Findings reveal 1251 instances of famine at the county level, with peaks occurring in spring and autumn. The famine index suggests three stages, with severity escalating over time. Incidence exhibited spatial heterogeneity and high positive spatial autocorrelation, especially in Guanzhong. Droughts, floods, and insects were primary environmental factors, exhibiting regional variations. Famine's societal impact was far-reaching, causing damage to agriculture, the economy, the collapse of social order, and outbreaks of social crises. These impacts exhibit significant spatial variations across regions. Results demonstrate a significant association between famine incidence and climate change, and famine was notably more prevalent during dry and cold periods and areas. These findings emphasize the importance of regional and intergenerational approaches in historical famine research and disaster management.