New study challenges long-held assumptions that attributed the fall of the Ming dynasty to eunuch governance, factional infighting, peasant revolts, and the ascent of the Manchus
Historians have long debated the reasons behind the Ming dynasty's collapse, often pointing to eunuch control, conflicts among civil officials, widespread peasant rebellions, and the emergence of the Manchus as key factors.
A study published in April in the scientific journal *Climate of the Past* proposes that a natural disaster in the Philippines should also be considered.
The research indicates that the 1640 eruption of Parker Volcano, located approximately 3,850km (about 2,400 miles) from Beijing, may have played a significant role in the dynasty's downfall.
Richard Warren, from the Institute of History at the University of Bern in Switzerland, has argued that volcanic eruptions could trigger major shifts in temperature and rainfall patterns, raising the likelihood of droughts, floods, and crop failures, thereby pushing fragile societies toward famine.