Between approximately 1500 and 1200 BC, the Mediterranean region hosted a complex, cosmopolitan, and globalized world system. It was perhaps this internationalism that contributed to the apocalyptic disaster that ended the Bronze Age. In the end, the civilized and international world of the Mediterranean regions came to a dramatic halt in a vast area stretching from Greece and Italy in the west to Egypt, Canaan and Mesopotamia in ballast. Large empires and small kingdoms collapsed quickly. With their end came the world's first recorded Dark Ages. It was only centuries later that a new cultural renaissance emerged in Greece and other affected regions, paving the way for the evolution of Western society as we know it today. Professor Eric H. Cline of George Washington University will explore why the Bronze Age ended and whether the collapse of these ancient civilizations could serve as a warning for our society today.
Considered for a Pulitzer Prize for his recent book 1177 BC, Dr. Eric H. Cline is professor of classics and anthropology and current director of the Capitol Archaeological Institute at George Washington University. He is a National Geographic Explorer, Fulbright Scholar, NEH Public Scholar, and award-winning professor and author. He has degrees in archeology and ancient history from Dartmouth, Yale, and the University of Pennsylvania; in May 2015 he received an honorary doctorate (honoris causa) from Muhlenberg College. Dr. Cline is an active field archaeologist with 30 seasons of excavation and survey experience.
The opinions expressed in this video are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of skeptics in the National Capital Region.
Please take the opportunity to connect and share this video with your friends and family if you find it useful.
