Tidbit Tuesday-Cairo Drougt 1784

In Husband of Convenience, Cairo is in the grip of a famine. This is a real event caused by the eruption of the Laki volcano in Iceland in 1783. It set off what scientists called a domino effect, causing colder temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere and a lack of flooding in the Nile.

This lack of Nile flooding, an annual event that is observable back to ancient times, meant a shortage of food. From 1783-1785, 1/6 of Cairo's population died from famine or fled the country in search of food.

In Husband of Convenience, Kaya can't flee Cairo like so many, but her grandfather arranges a marriage to help her escape.  

Laki or Lakagígar in western Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland

Yes, this is a gross simplification, but if you're interested in reading more about the volcano eruption and famine, here are a few resources I used.

Giant eruptions in Iceland led to Nile famine

High-Latitude Eruptions Cast Shadow over the African Monsoon and the Flow of the Nile 

 

Volcanic suppression of Nile summer flooding triggers revolt and constrains interstate conflict in ancient Egypt

 

The Nature of Plague in Late Eighteenth-Century Egypt