Anthropology Speaker Series: The Curse of Akkad What Archaeology Tells Us About Climate Change

Speaker: Andrew McCarthy
Affiliation: College of Southern Nevada
Date: 14 Feb. 2022
Full Title: “The Curse of Akkad”: what archaeology tells us about climate change and social collapse.
Abstract:
Archaeological subject matter is best treated as isolated from the present day in order to accurately build an unbiased picture of the past. At the same time, one of the purposes of understanding the past is to recognize patterns and improve future situations for ourselves. For instance, climate change has occurred multiple times in the human past. It is worthwhile seeing how previous cultures have adapted or failed to adapt, which could provide us with a blueprint to better understand how future climate change can be mitigated in terms of ensuring the continuation of society and preventing suffering. One such abrupt climate change event occurred about 4200 years ago and impacted what is often considered to be the first empire in the world: the Akkadian Empire. This empire began in what is modern Iraq and spread to dominate a wide swath of southwest Asia before eventually collapsing dramatically and leaving a power vacuum in the region that lasted for hundreds of years. The cause of this collapse has been speculated upon since ancient times, including the presumption that Akkad was cursed by the gods. Archaeology, however, suggests that climate change was also a factor and Yale University’s excavations at Tell Leilan in Syria provide detailed information on the timing and nature of the fall of the Akkadian Empire. The recent civil war in Syria tragically offers a modern parallel to the ancient example of social collapse being linked to climate stress, and the lessons from the Curse of Akkad can help us to understand how we might address future climate-induced social impacts.
Photo credit: Steven Zucker, Smarthistory

[@christianfrommuslim]

As this lecture illustrates, climate change cycles have been going on for thousands of years. They have impacted where and how people live. Do we blame that on the ancients? Yes, we have warming now. But in the past decades active volcanoes, and heat vents under both polar ice caps are putting out much heat effect. Yet we rarely, frankly never, hear these huge polluters mentioned as major sources, or even significant contributors to the current climate change. Why, one wonders? Could it be that no one benefits from making these factors known?

[@jonathanpeterson1984]

Sweet conspiracy theory! We don’t blame the ancients for volcanic eruptions changing the climate drastically because they were not at fault, WE on the other hand have strip mined,dumped, destroyed, cut down, burnt up and built on top of every square inch of ground we come in contact with. extreme overpopulation and fossil fuels are the reasons OUR climate is changing, not because Krakatoa erupted or a meteor struck earth😂🤦

[@walmartynotc]

I beg to differ update because mistakes misinformation and deception so bring what you like

[@lebowskiduderino89]

he is in a room by himself and he wears a mask and apologizes for taking it off to an online audience

[@OrdinaryCritic]

Virus spread through the internet, don’t you know that?

[@trumpsextratesticle8590]

We live in Intellectual darkages. Emotionalism rules the day (sadly) These will be the same people that will scream for your death because you dont blindly beleive in "global warming", and will kill you because you are a "threat against humanity". Been hearing "were all going to die in 10 years" since the 80s. LOL cant make this shit up.

[@trumpsextratesticle8590]

Had to turn this off after 15 minutes, this moron utters "uhm" every 10th word. SMH

[@gddett]

No duh. He could have been expecting in-person attendees like the woman said and it's kind of funny that he self depricates about his face after taking the mask off. Because they have to look at him not because he'll infect them.

[@kenmoore45]

Actually he's not in a room all by himself. He's there with 6 other persons. Just because you can't see them doesn't mean they're not there. But you can think what you want.

[@sonarbangla8711]

Even when anthropologists find 100,000 years old skeleton of humans near Canaan, they think they found the skeleton of a Jew.

[@jamesraymond1158]

This is an interesting subject but the speaker needs to sit down with a professional speaker and completely revise the talk. For example, the long-winded introduction (10 minutes) needs to be eliminated. A thirty minute talk would get a much better reception.