2012: Charles Mann at South Hadley High School

SHHS was honored on Tuesday with a visit from world-renowned author, journalist and historian Charles Mann, who spoke to students about how agriculture and disease have shaped history in many astonishing and far-reaching ways. Mann explained how various natural and historical phenomena, including the "little ice age" that began in the 1500s, were probably the unintended consequences human activity, specifically the westward movement of Europeans. While modern globalization is a popular topic of debate, Mann said that in his opinion, "the world has been 'flat' for about 400 years."