Droughts have significantly impacted human civilizations over the past millennium, causing immense suffering and altering the course of history. The longest droughts in the last 1000 years include a devastating 20-year drought in Central Mexico starting in 800 AD, attributed to climate change and deforestation. Similarly, a century-long drought began in the American Southwest around 1100 AD, influencing ancient Native American cultures.

In the late 16th century, Central Mexico experienced a 22-year drought that claimed 200,000 lives, while Northern China endured a seven-year drought in the early 17th century. The Deccan Plateau in India faced a nine-year drought starting in 1639, leading to the death of two million people due to monsoon failure and climate change. Please note that some numbers of victims are approximate values.

More recent droughts include the severe three-year drought in Southern India from 1876, resulting in five million fatalities, and the notorious Dust Bowl in the Great Plains of the United States, lasting from 1928 to 1934. Southeast Australia suffered a five-year drought starting in 1950, and the Sahel region of West Africa experienced a six-year drought beginning in 1965, affecting one million people.

For detailed information on these and other droughts, explore sources like the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and World Health Organization (WHO). These resources provide valuable insights into the causes, impacts, and lessons learned from droughts throughout history.