Final answer:
Historical accounts, like that of Caroline Henderson's Dust Bowl experience, reveal the deep impact natural disasters have had on agriculture, leading to expressions of despair. Failed crops have caused cycles of debt, poverty, and social unrest in both past and modern times, highlighting agriculture's vulnerability to environmental conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
When confronting the devastation of crops due to natural disasters like the Dust Bowl or droughts, those affected might have exclaimed in despair, "All is lost!" Such events have repeatedly underscored the precariousness of agricultural livelihoods. During the Dust Bowl, as described by Caroline Henderson, farmers saw their hard work and their hopes for bountiful harvests turn to dust, quite literally.
In ancient times, as in Han China, the failure of crops led to devastating cycles of debt and poverty, and during the Great Chinese Famine, the diversion of too much harvest to cities in combination with natural disasters caused widespread starvation. The impact of these agricultural failures extended to cities as well, causing unemployment and social strife. The historical narratives around these events emphasize the fragility of human endeavours against the forces of nature and the importance of sustainable agricultural practices and supportive policies to mitigate the risks involved.