The Anuradhapura Drought: How Climate Toppled a Kingdom

In this episode of The Story of Sri Lanka, we explore the devastating drought that struck Anuradhapura in the first century BCE, a catastrophe that historians believe contributed to the fall of the ancient city as the island's capital. We trace the events leading up to the crisis, from the reign of King Valagamba to the Tamil invasion led by Pulahatta, and examine how a prolonged dry spell, possibly tied to a shift in the monsoon, combined with political intrigue to bring down a dynasty. We look at the kingdom's reliance on complex irrigation systems, the role of the Mahavamsa in recording these events, and the archaeological evidence for climate change. Lucas and Luna discuss the broader lesson: that environmental stress can be as decisive as any army, and they reflect on how ancient societies coped with—or failed to cope with—a changing climate. This episode offers a fresh perspective on Sri Lanka's ancient history, tying together climate science, archaeology, and the stories of kings and invaders.

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