Historians are now applying scientific techniques like DNA testing, satellite imaging, and underwater technologies to solve historical mysteries and better understand the past. For example, geneticist Spencer Wells used DNA testing to trace human migration out of Africa starting 50,000 years ago. New evidence from burials, soil analysis, and carbon dating is also changing interpretations of populations in South America, showing larger pre-Columbian civilizations than previously believed that were later devastated by disease brought by European explorers. Advances in science and technology will continue to reshape our understanding of history.

1. History, Science, and TradePam Clark

2. What is History?History is the organic unfolding of events and phenomenon that attempts to recount those experiences that have caused us to evolve into the peoples that we have become. History changes as we gain new information.Historians utilize scientific and technological advances to further their quests for the truth about past events.

3. Good Historians are Great Detectives In a Los Angeles Times article, entitled “How Scientists Are Solving History’s Riddles,” Joe Nickell, a present-day “sleuth of history,” and many other historians are now applying scientific and technological advances to solving historical mysteries. DNA testing , satellite imaging, and advances in undersea technologies are all utilized today to uncover new facts about our past.

4. The Journey of Man, Spencer Wells Spencer Wells, a noted geneticist and molecular scientist, utilized DNA testing of the Y chromosome in men to rewrite the history of our origin, and genetically documented our migration from Africa, to Australia, to Middle Asia, to the Siberian Artic, and on to North America, beginning about 50,000 years ago.The Journey of Man, Spencer Wells cont. Based on Well’s findings, we are all descendants of the San Bushmen of Africa.

5. CatastropheAccording to noted writer, David Keys, a catastrophic event occurred about 1,500 years ago, that caused extreme climate changes which resulted in two years of cold, then a draught, followed by famine, plague, and death worldwide, that changed the course of history.His theory was supported by Mike Bailey, a dendro-chronologist, who dates tree rings to track worldwide climate changes. Bailey discovered that “tree rings went haywire” in the middle of the sixth century, suggesting a globalcrisis.

6. Catastrophe continuedCarbon-14 dating of ancient ash deposits around the island of Java indicate that the Volcano, Krakatoa, erupted about 1,500 years ago, sending up huge clouds of volcanic ash into the atmosphere, which triggered anuclear winter experienced globally.It has also been proven that plague follows drops in temperature and increases in rainfall, as flea and rat populations increase under these conditions.It is suggested that trade routes from Africa toAlexandria, and on to Europe are responsible for the spread of the plague via rats and fleas.

7. Changing Interpretations of America’s PastNew evidence is changing our view of South American peoples.The discovery of sophisticated burial urns, buried under huge man-made earthen mounds and evidence of a rich, black, man-made soil on the island of Mayuro at the mouth of theAmazon river, have dated this large population to have existed there for 900 years.This debunks our prior theory that South America was sparselypopulated by small groups ofnomadic people.We now know that disease brought by explorers may have wiped out as much as 95% of this continent’s population.

8. Changing Interpretations - The World and TradeThe Americas of pre-Columbus 1491, held highly populated Native American civilizations.Due to European exploration and trade, by the time the Mayflower arrived atPlymouth Rock, most of these native inhabitants were already dead.

9. The World and TradeHistory will continue to re-write itself and change as we continue to discover new information through technological and scientific advances.