Interethnic wars in northern China from 800 to 1900.xlsx

Aeolian desertification in China's monsoon marginal region impacts northern China's interethnic wars more directly than large-scale climate change by influencing biological productivity, yet research is scarce. Combining aeolian desertification history and war data from 800 to 1900, the study shows nomadic groups were more war-proactive but had lower win rates in late imperial China. They were less likely to wage war during the extensive aeolian desertification (EAD) period when subsistence was met due to weak attack ability, and more so and with higher win rates during the the reversed aeolian desertification (RAD) period. When EAD seriously threatened subsistence, they’d launch predatory wars. This analysis may have global implications for understanding future social dynamics.