Aspects of Armageddon: An exploration of the role of volcanic eruptions in human history and civilization

Volcanic eruptions are frequently invoked as the mechanism responsible for changes observed in the archaeological and environmental record. This paper argues that the evidence for this assumption is slight and that while there are examples of this, they are rare. Several case studies are discussed which illustrate the complex nature of the relationship between human cultures and volcanic eruptions and it is suggested that volcanic activity frequently acts as a stimulus rather than a brake to cultural development.