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1
00:00:03,033 --> 00:00:07,467
NARRATOR: THEY
ROSE FROM NOTHING.
2
00:00:07,467 --> 00:00:10,600
AND CHANGED EVERYTHING.
3
00:00:16,467 --> 00:00:19,567
EDITH HALL: THE ANCIENT GREEKS
CHANGED THE WORLD IN ABOUT
4
00:00:19,567 --> 00:00:22,667
1,000 YEARS FLAT.
5
00:00:33,900 --> 00:00:36,367
BETTANY HUGHES: THIS WAS A
TIME AND A PLACE WHEN THERE
6
00:00:36,367 --> 00:00:41,800
WAS A COLLISION OF IDEAS AND
INSPIRATION THAT RESULTED IN A
7
00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:46,167
TRULY EXTRAORDINARY CULTURE.
8
00:00:46,167 --> 00:00:48,333
NARRATOR: BUT OF ALL THE
MANY GREAT CIVILIZATIONS
9
00:00:48,333 --> 00:00:54,033
IN THE ANCIENT WORLD,
WHAT MADE THIS ONE SO SPECIAL?
10
00:00:54,033 --> 00:00:56,267
ERIC CLINE: PEOPLE TALK
ABOUT THE GREATNESS OF GREECE.
11
00:00:56,267 --> 00:00:58,067
WHY THEM, WHY THERE?
12
00:00:58,067 --> 00:01:01,633
THAT'S THE QUESTION.
13
00:01:01,633 --> 00:01:04,167
NARRATOR: AND WHY ARE WE,
MILLENNIA LATER,
14
00:01:04,167 --> 00:01:07,367
SO INTIMATELY LINKED
TO THE RADICAL REVOLUTION
15
00:01:07,367 --> 00:01:10,433
THAT TOOK PLACE HERE?
16
00:01:10,433 --> 00:01:12,367
MICHAEL COSMOPOULOS:
ANCIENT GREECE AND OUR
17
00:01:12,367 --> 00:01:15,500
MODERN SOCIETY ARE CONNECTED.
18
00:01:15,500 --> 00:01:19,767
WE CANNOT POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND
OUR SOCIETY IF WE DO NOT
19
00:01:19,767 --> 00:01:24,400
UNDERSTAND HOW IT WAS
BORN AND HOW IT DEVELOPED.
20
00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:28,533
NARRATOR: IT'S A STORY
FOR THE AGES AND FOR TODAY.
21
00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:35,300
OF ATTAINING GREATNESS
AND LOSING IT.
22
00:01:35,300 --> 00:01:37,300
NEIL DE GRASSE TYSON: HOW
LONG DID ANCIENT GREECE LAST,
23
00:01:37,300 --> 00:01:38,500
WAS IT FOREVER?
24
00:01:38,500 --> 00:01:42,133
NO, IT WAS FLEETING.
25
00:01:42,133 --> 00:01:45,433
ANGELIKI KOTTARIDI: IT WAS
THE BEGINNING OF A BEAUTIFUL
26
00:01:45,433 --> 00:01:48,767
NEW ERA OF CIVILIZATION.
27
00:01:49,900 --> 00:01:51,500
NARRATOR: "THE GREEKS."
28
00:01:51,500 --> 00:01:55,167
RIGHT NOW ON THIS
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SPECIAL.
29
00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:03,567
♪[NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
THEME MUSIC PLAYS].♪
30
00:02:19,867 --> 00:02:22,100
NARRATOR: IT'S BEEN
NEARLY 2,500 YEARS SINCE
31
00:02:22,100 --> 00:02:24,533
WORKERS PUT THE
FINISHING TOUCHES ON
32
00:02:24,533 --> 00:02:28,300
THE WESTERN WORLD'S
MOST ICONIC STRUCTURE.
33
00:02:32,167 --> 00:02:36,267
100,000 TONS OF
THE FINEST MARBLE.
34
00:02:41,667 --> 00:02:45,133
MORE THAN 70,000
INDIVIDUAL SEGMENTS.
35
00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:54,233
EXQUISITE SCULPTURES ALL
CAME TOGETHER IN MAJESTIC
36
00:02:54,233 --> 00:02:59,600
SYMMETRY ON THIS HIGH ROCKY
OUTCROP TO PROCLAIM THE
37
00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:04,967
SUPREMACY OF ATHENS,
A CIVILIZATION AT ITS PEAK.
38
00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:04,967
SUPREMACY OF ATHENS,
A CIVILIZATION AT ITS PEAK.
39
00:03:07,267 --> 00:03:10,767
NEIL DE GRASSE TYSON: TO STAND
THERE I GOT A LITTLE CHILL,
40
00:03:10,767 --> 00:03:15,167
Y'KNOW, THE HAIRS STOOD
UP ON THE BACK OF MY NECK.
41
00:03:15,167 --> 00:03:19,400
I WOULD SAY ALMOST A
SPIRITUAL MOMENT FOR ME.
42
00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,600
BETTANY HUGHES: THESE
BEAUTIFUL STATUES AND
43
00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,233
MONUMENTS DECLARE TO THE
WORLD THAT THEY HAVE ACHIEVED
44
00:03:24,233 --> 00:03:28,867
EXTRAORDINARY LEVELS
OF CIVILIZATION.
45
00:03:32,833 --> 00:03:34,967
NARRATOR: TWO AND
HALF MILLENNIA LATER,
46
00:03:34,967 --> 00:03:37,433
WORKERS ARE RACING TO
RESCUE THE PARTHENON FROM
47
00:03:37,433 --> 00:03:41,067
THE RAVAGES OF TIME.
48
00:03:42,733 --> 00:03:46,500
CENTURIES OF WARS,
EARTHQUAKES, LOOTING,
49
00:03:46,500 --> 00:03:50,467
PLUNDERING, HAVE
TAKEN THEIR TOLL.
50
00:03:52,833 --> 00:03:55,700
YET, IT STILL STANDS,
51
00:03:55,700 --> 00:04:00,500
A PROUD REMINDER
OF HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT.
52
00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:06,133
ONE THAT CONTINUES TO INSPIRE,
53
00:04:06,133 --> 00:04:10,567
EVEN THROUGH THE
MOST TRYING OF TIMES.
54
00:04:14,567 --> 00:04:17,233
NOT JUST IN GREECE,
55
00:04:17,233 --> 00:04:21,767
BUT WHEREVER PEOPLE
STRIVE FOR DEMOCRACY.
56
00:04:26,567 --> 00:04:29,233
WHEN NAVIGATING THE PRESENT,
57
00:04:29,233 --> 00:04:33,233
THE ANSWERS OFTEN
LIE IN THE PAST.
58
00:04:33,233 --> 00:04:36,967
THE GREEK WRITER HERODOTUS,
THE WORLD'S FIRST HISTORIAN,
59
00:04:36,967 --> 00:04:39,233
TAUGHT US THAT.
60
00:04:39,233 --> 00:04:41,500
MICHAEL COSMOPOULOS: THERE
IS A GREAT DEAL OF CONTINUITY
61
00:04:41,500 --> 00:04:44,833
FROM ANCIENT GREECE
TO MODERN SOCIETY.
62
00:04:44,833 --> 00:04:48,767
THEY ARE PART OF THE
SAME CULTURAL CONTINUUM.
63
00:04:51,700 --> 00:04:53,967
NARRATOR: THE PEOPLE WHO
RAISED THESE COLUMNS CERTAINLY
64
00:04:53,967 --> 00:04:56,433
HAD THEIR
SHARE OF CHALLENGES:
65
00:04:56,433 --> 00:04:58,567
TYRANNY AND FAMINE,
66
00:04:58,567 --> 00:05:03,867
ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL
COLLAPSE, ENDLESS WARS,
67
00:05:03,867 --> 00:05:08,433
AN ABYSMAL HUMAN
RIGHTS RECORD.
68
00:05:08,433 --> 00:05:12,500
YET SOMEHOW THEY INVENTED
EVERYTHING FROM SCIENCE AND
69
00:05:12,500 --> 00:05:16,433
PHILOSOPHY TO DRAMA
AND DEMOCRACY.
70
00:05:18,133 --> 00:05:23,500
GREECE, NOT EGYPT,
NOT PERSIA, NOT ROME,
71
00:05:23,500 --> 00:05:28,933
BECAME THE CORNERSTONE
OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION.
72
00:05:28,933 --> 00:05:32,100
THE QUESTION IS, HOW?
73
00:05:32,100 --> 00:05:33,967
EDITH HALL: IF WE DON'T
ASK THEM HOW THEY DID IT AND
74
00:05:33,967 --> 00:05:35,900
WHY THEY DID IT, THEN WE
ARE NOT EVEN ATTEMPTING TO
75
00:05:35,900 --> 00:05:39,600
UNDERSTAND THE
WORLD AS A WHOLE.
76
00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:42,567
NARRATOR: IT TURNS OUT THE
GREEKS THEMSELVES WERE SEEKING
77
00:05:42,567 --> 00:05:46,000
TO UNDERSTAND THEIR
EXTRAORDINARY RISE LONG
78
00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:49,933
BEFORE WE WERE.
79
00:05:49,933 --> 00:05:53,500
GREEK MYTHS TELL US THEY
WERE BORN OUT OF CHAOS,
80
00:05:53,500 --> 00:05:56,667
QUITE LITERALLY, "CHAOS"
BEING THE GREEK WORD FOR
81
00:05:56,667 --> 00:05:59,867
CHASM OR VOID.
82
00:05:59,867 --> 00:06:03,667
FROM THE VOID AT THE DAWN OF
THE UNIVERSE AROSE GODS LIKE:
83
00:05:59,867 --> 00:06:03,667
FROM THE VOID AT THE DAWN OF
THE UNIVERSE AROSE GODS LIKE:
84
00:06:03,667 --> 00:06:08,633
GAIA, EARTH, URANUS, SKY;
85
00:06:10,833 --> 00:06:14,900
TARTARUS, THE UNDERWORLD;
86
00:06:14,900 --> 00:06:18,533
AND EROS, LOVE.
87
00:06:18,533 --> 00:06:23,267
THROUGH A VIOLENT SUCCESSION
OF INFANTICIDE AND PATRICIDE,
88
00:06:23,267 --> 00:06:27,400
JEALOUSY, DECEIT AND REVENGE,
THIS FIRST GENERATION OF
89
00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:32,100
DIVINITIES, GAVE RISE
TO THE GODS OF OLYMPUS:
90
00:06:32,100 --> 00:06:39,833
ZEUS, POSEIDON, HADES,
ATHENA AND ALL THE OTHERS.
91
00:06:43,067 --> 00:06:47,233
AND ULTIMATELY, THAT
GOD-FORSAKEN MORTAL SPECIES,
92
00:06:47,233 --> 00:06:51,667
HUMANS, TO TOIL AWAY ON EARTH.
93
00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:00,933
YET THE MYTHS ALSO TELL
OF ONE FIGURE WHO TOOK PITY
94
00:07:00,933 --> 00:07:06,633
ON US HUMANS, RESCUED US
FROM OBLIVION AND PAID
95
00:07:06,633 --> 00:07:09,267
THE PRICE FOR IT.
96
00:07:13,867 --> 00:07:17,333
THE GREEK PLAYWRIGHT AESCHYLUS
WROTE OF THIS HERO'S TRAVAILS
97
00:07:17,333 --> 00:07:20,100
AT THE HEIGHT OF
GREECE'S GOLDEN AGE MORE THAN
98
00:07:20,100 --> 00:07:23,500
2,500 YEARS AGO.
99
00:07:24,967 --> 00:07:27,967
HIS NAME WAS PROMETHEUS.
100
00:07:27,967 --> 00:07:33,400
THE PLAY: PROMETHEUS BOUND.
101
00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:38,133
TONIGHT, NEARLY 6,000 PEOPLE
FILE INTO A THEATER AS OLD AS
102
00:07:38,133 --> 00:07:44,833
DRAMA ITSELF, THE EPIDAURUS,
TO EXPERIENCE IT JUST AS THEIR
103
00:07:44,833 --> 00:07:47,233
ANCESTORS WOULD HAVE.
104
00:07:50,867 --> 00:07:55,633
[SPEAKING GREEK].
105
00:07:55,633 --> 00:07:59,167
TASOS NOUSIAS PLAYS
THE LEADING ROLE.
106
00:07:59,167 --> 00:08:03,900
TASOS NOUSIAS: PROMETHEUS
IS A TITAN, HE IS A GOD.
107
00:08:03,900 --> 00:08:08,300
ZEUS HAD DECIDED TO
ERADICATE MANKIND.
108
00:08:08,300 --> 00:08:13,467
PROMETHEUS IS THE ONE WHO
STANDS UP FOR THE PEOPLE.
109
00:08:13,467 --> 00:08:17,767
WITHOUT HIM, MANKIND
WOULD BE LOST.
110
00:08:17,767 --> 00:08:21,167
EDITH HALL: SO HE ACTUALLY
STEALS FIRE FROM OLYMPUS.
111
00:08:21,167 --> 00:08:23,333
HUMANS HAVEN'T GOT IT, THEY
ARE STILL LIVING IN HORRIBLE
112
00:08:23,333 --> 00:08:25,400
CAVES, THEY'VE GOT NO
HEAT, THEY'VE GOT NO LIGHT,
113
00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:29,000
THEY CAN'T MAKE ANYTHING
NEW, THEY CAN'T COOK.
114
00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:32,767
AND HE GIVES THEM FIRE, AND
OF COURSE THAT IS THE PRECISE,
115
00:08:32,767 --> 00:08:35,467
INFLAMMATORY MOMENT WHEN
THE HUMAN RACE TAKES OFF,
116
00:08:35,467 --> 00:08:38,933
AND THEY START
INVENTING EVERYTHING.
117
00:08:49,700 --> 00:08:52,800
NARRATOR: WITH FIRE, THE
REBELLIOUS PROMETHEUS ENDOWS
118
00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:56,967
MORTALS WITH ALL THE
ELEMENTS OF CIVILIZATION.
119
00:08:56,967 --> 00:08:59,200
THERE WAS FARMING.
120
00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:03,033
PROMETHEUS: THEY HAD NO SIGN
OF WINTER, OR FLOWERY SPRING,
121
00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:03,033
PROMETHEUS: THEY HAD NO SIGN
OF WINTER, OR FLOWERY SPRING,
122
00:09:03,033 --> 00:09:06,900
OR FRUITFUL SUMMER,
UNTIL I TAUGHT THEM TO NOTE
123
00:09:06,900 --> 00:09:11,333
THE RISINGS AND
SETTINGS OF THE STARS.
124
00:09:11,333 --> 00:09:14,233
NARRATOR: SCIENCE.
125
00:09:14,233 --> 00:09:18,700
PROMETHEUS: YES, AND NUMBERS,
THE BASIS OF SCIENCE,
126
00:09:18,700 --> 00:09:22,133
I INVENTED FOR THEM.
127
00:09:22,133 --> 00:09:23,733
NARRATOR: LANGUAGE.
128
00:09:23,733 --> 00:09:26,133
PROMETHEUS: AND THE
COMBINING OF LETTERS,
129
00:09:26,133 --> 00:09:28,467
MOTHER OF THE MUSES' ARTS,
130
00:09:28,467 --> 00:09:31,533
WITH WHICH TO HOLD
ALL THINGS IN MEMORY.
131
00:09:31,533 --> 00:09:36,333
NARRATOR: LITERATURE,
PHILOSOPHY, DEMOCRACY, DRAMA.
132
00:09:40,467 --> 00:09:44,300
WHEN THIS PLAY FIRST DEBUTED,
THEY WERE ALL JUST MAKING
133
00:09:44,300 --> 00:09:49,233
THEIR GRAND ENTRANCES
ONTO THE WORLD STAGE.
134
00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:57,367
EDITH HALL: PROMETHEUS OF
COURSE SUFFERS TERRIBLY AND
135
00:09:57,367 --> 00:10:01,167
ZEUS ATTACHES HIM TO A
MOUNTAIN AND HE HAS AN EAGLE
136
00:10:01,167 --> 00:10:04,767
TO CHEW AT HIS
LIVER IN POSTERITY.
137
00:10:04,767 --> 00:10:09,167
BUT INSIDE EVERY ANCIENT
GREEK HEAD WAS THE IDEA THAT
138
00:10:09,167 --> 00:10:11,000
IF SOMEBODY WAS TRYING
TO DEPRIVE YOU OF SOMETHING
139
00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:14,200
THAT WOULD HELP YOU,
YOU COULD GO GET IT,
140
00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,500
SO THAT IS THIS REBELLIOUS
141
00:10:16,500 --> 00:10:19,233
SPIRIT OF THE ANCIENT
GREEKS INCARNATE IN AN
142
00:10:19,233 --> 00:10:23,467
ANCIENT TITAN GOD.
143
00:10:23,467 --> 00:10:26,400
BETTANY HUGHES: WHAT THE
AUTHOR AESCHYLUS IS TELLING US
144
00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:29,333
IS THAT HUMANS SHOULD USE
THEIR WITS AND THEIR WISDOM
145
00:10:29,333 --> 00:10:35,367
AND THEIR WILL TO TRY TO
MAKE THEIR OWN LIVES BETTER.
146
00:10:35,367 --> 00:10:38,467
NARRATOR: OF COURSE,
THIS PLAY CAME AT THE PEAK OF
147
00:10:38,467 --> 00:10:40,567
GREECE'S GOLDEN AGE.
148
00:10:40,567 --> 00:10:43,100
BY THEN, EVEN THE ANCIENTS
KNEW THAT THEIR MANY
149
00:10:43,100 --> 00:10:47,133
ACHIEVEMENTS WEREN'T
SIMPLY GIFTS FROM THE GODS;
150
00:10:47,133 --> 00:10:51,567
THEY WERE HARD EARNED
OVER GENERATIONS.
151
00:10:53,900 --> 00:10:57,433
THE TRUE STORY BEHIND THEIR
DRAMATIC RISE LIES BEYOND THE
152
00:10:57,433 --> 00:11:03,900
MYTHS AND BEGINS MANY
THOUSANDS OF YEARS EARLIER,
153
00:11:03,900 --> 00:11:07,667
WHEN, AS
PROMETHEUS TELLS US...
154
00:11:07,667 --> 00:11:10,633
PROMETHEUS: THEY HAD NO
KNOWLEDGE OF HOUSES BUILT OF
155
00:11:10,633 --> 00:11:13,433
BRICKS, NOR HOW
TO WORK IN WOOD,
156
00:11:13,433 --> 00:11:16,667
BUT LIVED UNDERGROUND
LIKE SWARMING ANTS
157
00:11:16,667 --> 00:11:20,767
IN SUNLESS CAVES.
158
00:11:25,367 --> 00:11:27,300
BILL PARKINSON:
CLASSICAL GREECE DIDN'T JUST
159
00:11:27,300 --> 00:11:28,933
COME OUT OF NOWHERE.
160
00:11:28,933 --> 00:11:31,433
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO
UNDERSTAND WHERE THE GREECE OF
161
00:11:31,433 --> 00:11:34,133
ATHENS, THE GREECE OF
THE ACROPOLIS CAME FROM,
162
00:11:34,133 --> 00:11:36,733
YOU NEED TO LOOK WAY
BACK IN THE PAST.
163
00:11:36,733 --> 00:11:38,533
YOU NEED TO LOOK SEVERAL
THOUSAND YEARS BACK IN THE
164
00:11:38,533 --> 00:11:43,700
PAST AT PLACES LIKE THIS.
165
00:11:45,933 --> 00:11:49,400
NARRATOR: THIS IS ALEPOTRYPA
CAVE ON SOUTHERN GREECE'S
166
00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:52,600
MANI PENINSULA, A CAVE
USED BY SOME OF THE EARLIEST
167
00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:56,300
FARMERS IN EUROPE.
168
00:11:56,300 --> 00:11:58,667
ANASTASIA PAPATHANASIOU:
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT SITE.
169
00:11:58,667 --> 00:12:01,700
IT IS THE RICHEST CAVE IN
GREECE AND ONE OF THE
170
00:12:01,700 --> 00:12:04,433
RICHEST IN EUROPE.
171
00:12:01,700 --> 00:12:04,433
RICHEST IN EUROPE.
172
00:12:04,433 --> 00:12:06,367
NARRATOR: SOME HAVE
SUGGESTED IT WAS THE MYTHICAL
173
00:12:06,367 --> 00:12:08,267
GATEWAY TO HADES,
174
00:12:08,267 --> 00:12:13,233
THE GREEK UNDERWORLD,
AND IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY.
175
00:12:14,967 --> 00:12:17,400
IN VARIOUS POCKETS ALL
AROUND THIS NEARLY
176
00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:21,367
1,000-FOOT LONG CAVERN,
SCIENTISTS HAVE EXHUMED
177
00:12:21,367 --> 00:12:25,267
MORE THAN 150 BODIES.
178
00:12:32,267 --> 00:12:35,667
ARCHAEOLOGISTS
ANASTASIA PAPATHANASIOU AND
179
00:12:35,667 --> 00:12:39,767
BILL PARKINSON
CONTINUE TO FIND MORE.
180
00:12:39,767 --> 00:12:42,200
BILL PARKINSON: FROM
8,000 YEARS AGO UNTIL ABOUT
181
00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:45,433
5,000 YEARS AGO,
AGRICULTURAL VILLAGERS,
182
00:12:45,433 --> 00:12:47,667
FARMERS, SOME OF THE
FIRST FARMERS IN EUROPE
183
00:12:47,667 --> 00:12:49,633
BURIED THEIR DEAD IN HERE.
184
00:12:49,633 --> 00:12:53,767
THEY CARRIED OUT RITUAL
ACTIVITIES HERE AND THESE ARE
185
00:12:53,767 --> 00:12:57,700
THE PEOPLE WHO EVENTUALLY
LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR
186
00:12:57,700 --> 00:13:02,267
WHAT BECAME CLASSICAL GREECE.
187
00:13:02,267 --> 00:13:05,333
NARRATOR: COMPARED TO OTHER
ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS IT SEEMS
188
00:13:05,333 --> 00:13:09,767
THE PEOPLE HERE IN
GREECE NEVER HAD IT EASY.
189
00:13:09,767 --> 00:13:12,767
THE CAVE PROVIDES A
WINDOW INTO A KEY PERIOD IN
190
00:13:12,767 --> 00:13:16,933
HUMAN HISTORY, THE NEOLITHIC.
191
00:13:22,233 --> 00:13:24,867
WHEN BY AROUND
10,000 YEARS AGO,
192
00:13:24,867 --> 00:13:28,533
HUMANS FIRST STARTED TO
GIVE UP HUNTING AND GATHERING,
193
00:13:28,533 --> 00:13:32,600
AND BEGAN SETTLING DOWN.
194
00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:34,900
ANASTASIA PAPATHANASIOU: IT IS
THE FIRST TIME PERIOD IN HUMAN
195
00:13:34,900 --> 00:13:40,433
LIFE THAT THE PEOPLE, THEY
START LIVING IN A WAY LIKE US.
196
00:13:40,433 --> 00:13:42,600
THEY ARE AGRICULTURALISTS.
197
00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:49,167
THEY BASE THEIR DIET MOSTLY
ON GRAINS LIKE US TODAY.
198
00:13:49,167 --> 00:13:51,867
NARRATOR: DEPENDING ON WHERE
YOU LIVED AND WHAT RESOURCES
199
00:13:51,867 --> 00:13:55,400
YOU HAD ACCESS TO, SOME
SOCIETIES DURING THE NEOLITHIC
200
00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:59,867
WERE MUCH MORE PRIMED FOR
GREATNESS THAN OTHERS.
201
00:14:01,300 --> 00:14:05,167
THE EGYPTIANS
HAD THEIR NILE,
202
00:14:05,167 --> 00:14:07,033
ITS PREDICTABLE
FLOODS BECAME
203
00:14:07,033 --> 00:14:10,833
THE LIFEBLOOD OF
THE FERTILE CRESCENT,
204
00:14:10,833 --> 00:14:16,033
AS DID THE TIGRIS AND
EUPHRATES TO THE NORTH.
205
00:14:16,033 --> 00:14:19,933
HERE FERTILE PLAINS
FED BOOMING POPULATIONS,
206
00:14:19,933 --> 00:14:23,033
ALLOWING EXPANSIVE
MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILIZATIONS
207
00:14:23,033 --> 00:14:26,367
TO FLOURISH.
208
00:14:26,367 --> 00:14:29,667
FURTHER EAST, INDIAN
CIVILIZATIONS THRIVED IN
209
00:14:29,667 --> 00:14:34,267
THE VALLEY CARVED
BY THE INDUS RIVER.
210
00:14:34,267 --> 00:14:37,000
WHILE THE YELLOW RIVER GAVE
RISE TO THE FIRST CHINESE
211
00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:41,967
SETTLEMENTS AND DYNASTIES.
212
00:14:41,967 --> 00:14:45,967
IN SOUTHERN GREECE, PEOPLE
WEREN'T QUITE SO FORTUNATE.
213
00:14:45,967 --> 00:14:50,767
THERE WAS NO MIGHTY RIVER,
NO NUTRIENT-RICH SOIL.
214
00:14:50,767 --> 00:14:53,533
HERE, AS AN ANCIENT
SAYING GOES,
215
00:14:53,533 --> 00:14:57,633
THE GODS THREW DOWN
A PILE OF ROCKS.
216
00:15:03,433 --> 00:15:07,000
BILL PARKINSON: PARTS OF
GREECE ARE EXTREMELY ROCKY.
217
00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:09,767
Y'KNOW, YOU BASICALLY
HAVE MOUNTAINS AND SEA,
218
00:15:09,767 --> 00:15:11,867
THERE'S VERY
LITTLE ARABLE LAND,
219
00:15:11,867 --> 00:15:14,633
THERE AREN'T MANY FLAT SPACES.
220
00:15:14,633 --> 00:15:16,700
IT'S KIND OF HARD AS A
FARMER TO EKE OUT A LIVING
221
00:15:16,700 --> 00:15:19,400
IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.
222
00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:22,300
NARRATOR: JUST OUTSIDE
OF ALEPOTRYPA CAVE,
223
00:15:22,300 --> 00:15:26,100
NEW FINDS TELL A DARK TALE
ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT LIFE HERE
224
00:15:26,100 --> 00:15:29,433
IN THE NEOLITHIC WAS.
225
00:15:29,433 --> 00:15:31,467
BILL PARKINSON: HOW WE DOING?
226
00:15:31,467 --> 00:15:34,033
NARRATOR: PARKINSON AND
HIS TEAM HAVE UNCOVERED THE
227
00:15:34,033 --> 00:15:37,900
SKELETON OF AN INFANT
AND A YOUNG COUPLE IN
228
00:15:37,900 --> 00:15:39,600
A TENDER EMBRACE.
229
00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,667
BILL PARKINSON:
WE'VE GOT AT LEAST TWO,
230
00:15:42,667 --> 00:15:45,500
PROBABLY THREE
INDIVIDUALS, RIGHT,
231
00:15:45,500 --> 00:15:49,367
BECAUSE WE'VE GOT
FRAGMENTS OF A FIFTH LEG.
232
00:15:49,367 --> 00:15:52,000
NARRATOR:
WITH RESOURCES SCARCE,
233
00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:56,067
IT SEEMS COMPETITION
WAS FIERCE.
234
00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:01,533
NEARLY A THIRD OF THE
PEOPLE DISCOVERED HERE SUFFERED
235
00:16:01,533 --> 00:16:05,533
BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA,
LIKELY THE RESULT OF
236
00:16:05,533 --> 00:16:09,533
TRIBAL WARS OVER
RESOURCES OR TERRITORY.
237
00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:17,167
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN
WAS JUST 29 YEARS.
238
00:16:17,167 --> 00:16:19,733
ANASTASIA PAPATHANASIOU: THEY
HAD LOTS OF PHYSICAL STRESS.
239
00:16:19,733 --> 00:16:22,167
THEIR DIET WASN'T OPTIMAL.
240
00:16:22,167 --> 00:16:26,500
THEY HAVE A LOW CONTENT OF
IRON AND ANIMAL PROTEIN.
241
00:16:26,500 --> 00:16:30,367
WE HAVE HIGH
INFANT MORTALITY.
242
00:16:30,367 --> 00:16:33,067
NARRATOR: TAKEN TOGETHER,
THE SKELETONS REVEAL A BLEAK
243
00:16:33,067 --> 00:16:37,233
PICTURE FOR THESE
EARLY GREEKS.
244
00:16:37,233 --> 00:16:41,633
BY THE TIME THE CAVE COLLAPSED
AROUND 5,000 YEARS AGO,
245
00:16:41,633 --> 00:16:47,400
THE NEARBY SETTLEMENTS
WERE COLLAPSING ALONG WITH IT.
246
00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:49,933
THE GREEKS MAY HAVE
BECOME NOTHING MORE THAN A
247
00:16:49,933 --> 00:16:53,167
HISTORICAL FOOTNOTE,
WERE IT NOT FOR ONE OBVIOUS,
248
00:16:53,167 --> 00:16:56,700
ALBEIT FORBIDDING, ADVANTAGE.
249
00:17:01,433 --> 00:17:03,233
BETTANY HUGHES: THERE IS AN
INTERESTING THING ABOUT GREECE
250
00:17:03,233 --> 00:17:05,433
IS THAT WHEREVER YOU ARE
YOU ARE NEVER MORE THAN
251
00:17:05,433 --> 00:17:08,833
50 MILES AWAY FROM THE SEA,
SO THE SEA YOU CAN ALMOST SEE
252
00:17:08,833 --> 00:17:13,267
AND HEAR IT, IT IS
PART OF YOUR EXPERIENCE.
253
00:17:13,267 --> 00:17:15,500
NARRATOR: WITH ITS
INLETS AND ISLANDS,
254
00:17:15,500 --> 00:17:17,867
GREECE HAS ONE OF THE
HIGHEST PROPORTIONS OF
255
00:17:17,867 --> 00:17:21,767
COASTLINE TO
LAND AREA ON EARTH.
256
00:17:26,433 --> 00:17:28,967
AND WITH SUCH
LIMITED RESOURCES,
257
00:17:28,967 --> 00:17:33,767
THE SEA BECAME A LIFELINE.
258
00:17:33,767 --> 00:17:35,533
MICHAEL COSMOPOULOS: HAVING
TO SURVIVE IN A VERY DIFFICULT
259
00:17:35,533 --> 00:17:39,200
ENVIRONMENT MADE
PEOPLE STRONGER.
260
00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:44,100
IT MADE PEOPLE TOUGH,
IT MADE PEOPLE DEFIANT.
261
00:17:44,100 --> 00:17:48,233
IT MADE PEOPLE
TURN TO THE SEA.
262
00:17:48,233 --> 00:17:51,167
EDITH HALL: THE GREEKS WERE
ACTUALLY FORCED BY THEIR OWN
263
00:17:51,167 --> 00:17:55,100
TERRAIN INTO BECOMING
BRILLIANT NAVIGATORS VERY,
264
00:17:55,100 --> 00:17:58,500
VERY EARLY ON.
265
00:17:58,500 --> 00:18:00,733
NARRATOR: SOME OF THE EARLIEST
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE
266
00:18:00,733 --> 00:18:05,233
OF THEIR VOYAGES DATES TO
MORE THAN 10,000 YEARS AGO.
267
00:18:00,733 --> 00:18:05,233
OF THEIR VOYAGES DATES TO
MORE THAN 10,000 YEARS AGO.
268
00:18:05,233 --> 00:18:08,433
WHEN A TYPE OF HIGHLY PRIZED
OBSIDIAN FOUND ONLY ON THE
269
00:18:08,433 --> 00:18:12,700
VOLCANIC ISLAND OF MILOS
TURNED UP ON MAINLAND GREECE.
270
00:18:14,367 --> 00:18:16,567
MILOS IS JUST ONE IN A
CIRCULAR CLUSTER OF ISLANDS
271
00:18:16,567 --> 00:18:19,833
IN THE AEGEAN SEA
272
00:18:19,833 --> 00:18:23,900
APTLY NAMED, THE CYCLADES.
273
00:18:23,900 --> 00:18:25,900
DEBORAH CARLSON: THESE ISLANDS
ON A VERY PRACTICAL LEVEL MADE
274
00:18:25,900 --> 00:18:30,400
IT POSSIBLE FOR THE FIRST
SEAFARERS TO NAVIGATE AROUND
275
00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:33,900
THE AEGEAN TO BASICALLY ISLAND
HOP THE SAME WAY TOURISTS
276
00:18:33,900 --> 00:18:37,400
DO TODAY AND THAT PLAYED A
REALLY PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE
277
00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:41,033
DEVELOPMENT OF GREECE.
278
00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:45,667
BILL PARKINSON: ONE OF
THE KEY THINGS THAT HAPPENS
279
00:18:45,667 --> 00:18:47,833
IS THE DEVELOPMENT
OF A NEW KIND OF BOAT,
280
00:18:47,833 --> 00:18:49,467
IT'S CALLED A LONG BOAT,
281
00:18:49,467 --> 00:18:51,367
AND THIS LETS YOU
MOVE WAY MORE STUFF,
282
00:18:51,367 --> 00:18:55,200
YOU CAN GO WAY FURTHER.
283
00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:57,067
NARRATOR:
IN ADDITION TO OBSIDIAN,
284
00:18:57,067 --> 00:18:59,267
LONGBOATS ALLOWED
EARLY MARINERS HERE TO
285
00:18:59,267 --> 00:19:02,467
HAUL RESOURCES LIKE
SILVER, COPPER, LEAD,
286
00:19:02,467 --> 00:19:07,067
AND MARBLE AROUND THE AEGEAN.
287
00:19:07,067 --> 00:19:11,333
BY 3200 BC, PEOPLE HAD
SETTLED THE ISLANDS AND A
288
00:19:11,333 --> 00:19:14,233
NEW CULTURE WAS BORN.
289
00:19:16,067 --> 00:19:18,567
THE CYCLADIC PEOPLE,
AS THEY'VE COME TO BE KNOWN,
290
00:19:18,567 --> 00:19:23,500
WOULD PUT THEIR MINERAL
RESOURCES TO EXQUISITE USE,
291
00:19:23,500 --> 00:19:28,167
CARVING INTRICATE MARBLE
STATUES AND FIGURINES,
292
00:19:28,167 --> 00:19:32,000
SOME OF THEM LIFE SIZE.
293
00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:33,467
BILL PARKINSON: SOME
PEOPLE THINK THEY'RE DEITIES.
294
00:19:33,467 --> 00:19:35,400
THEY MIGHT BE GODS,
THEY MIGHT BE REPRESENTATIONS
295
00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:37,933
OF GODDESSES.
296
00:19:37,933 --> 00:19:41,200
WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE SOME
SORT OF A RITUAL CONNOTATION
297
00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:46,400
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE
ALMOST ALL FROM BURIALS.
298
00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:48,700
NARRATOR: WHATEVER THE
INTENT, THEIR MINIMALIST,
299
00:19:48,700 --> 00:19:53,567
ABSTRACT FEATURES WOULD
ECHO THROUGH THE AGES,
300
00:19:53,567 --> 00:19:57,867
INSPIRING THE LIKES OF
PICASSO AND MODIGLIANI.
301
00:20:06,333 --> 00:20:09,333
BUT BEYOND THEIR ART, THE
CYCLADIC PEOPLE MAY HAVE LEFT
302
00:20:09,333 --> 00:20:15,500
AN EVEN MORE INDELIBLE LEGACY
ON THE CREATION OF GREECE.
303
00:20:15,500 --> 00:20:18,933
THEIR ISLANDS BECAME A
CROSSROADS OF GOODS, IDEAS,
304
00:20:18,933 --> 00:20:25,000
AND CULTURES BRIDGING THE
ENTIRE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN.
305
00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:26,633
BILL PARKINSON: THEY'RE
LIVING ON THESE ISLANDS,
306
00:20:26,633 --> 00:20:30,833
THEY RELY ON THE SEA,
THEY KNOW THE SEA.
307
00:20:30,833 --> 00:20:33,200
AND BECAUSE OF THE SEAFARING
SKILLS THAT THEY DEVELOPED,
308
00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,633
THEY'RE ALL OF THE SUDDEN
PLUGGED INTO THIS HUGE NETWORK
309
00:20:36,633 --> 00:20:40,100
THAT'S LINKING ALL OF THE
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN TOGETHER
310
00:20:40,100 --> 00:20:43,967
AND THAT'S ABOUT TO
BECOME HUGELY IMPORTANT.
311
00:20:43,967 --> 00:20:47,533
NARRATOR: ESPECIALLY
AROUND 5,000 YEARS AGO
312
00:20:47,533 --> 00:20:51,600
WHEN THE STONE
AGE GAVE WAY TO THE BRONZE,
313
00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:55,867
AND THE WORLD'S
FIRST GLOBAL ECONOMY.
314
00:20:57,967 --> 00:21:01,800
TODAY IT'S OIL THAT
MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND.
315
00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:04,700
BUT BACK THEN THE
ECONOMY WAS DRIVEN BY AN
316
00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:04,700
BUT BACK THEN THE
ECONOMY WAS DRIVEN BY AN
317
00:21:04,700 --> 00:21:10,533
AMALGAMATION OF
90% COPPER TO 10% TIN,
318
00:21:10,533 --> 00:21:15,900
HEATED TO A BLISTERING
1100 DEGREES CELSIUS.
319
00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:20,533
BILL PARKINSON: WHEN YOU
MIX THAT COPPER WITH ANOTHER
320
00:21:20,533 --> 00:21:25,533
ALLOY, ANOTHER KIND OF
METAL, IT BECOMES HARD.
321
00:21:25,533 --> 00:21:27,333
NOW YOU CAN START TO
USE IT FOR WEAPONS,
322
00:21:27,333 --> 00:21:31,700
YOU CAN START TO USE IT
FOR FUNCTIONAL TOOLS.
323
00:21:31,700 --> 00:21:34,100
NARRATOR: VERSATILE
AS BRONZE WAS,
324
00:21:34,100 --> 00:21:38,700
FEW HAD THE COPPER
OR TIN TO PRODUCE IT.
325
00:21:38,700 --> 00:21:41,100
ERIC CLINE: THE COPPER
IS MOSTLY FROM CYPRUS,
326
00:21:41,100 --> 00:21:43,533
THAT'S WHERE WE'VE GOT
THE NAME, IN FACT, KYPROS.
327
00:21:43,533 --> 00:21:46,267
THE MAJORITY OF TIN IN
THE BRONZE AGE IS COMING FROM
328
00:21:46,267 --> 00:21:50,033
WHAT WE WOULD CALL
AFGHANISTAN TODAY.
329
00:21:50,033 --> 00:21:52,933
THAT IS A TRIP OF
THOUSANDS OF MILES.
330
00:21:56,567 --> 00:21:59,667
NARRATOR: DEMAND FOR BRONZE
SPAWNED TRADING NETWORKS FROM
331
00:21:59,667 --> 00:22:03,300
EGYPT AND THE MIDDLE EAST
ALL THE WAY TO ITALY,
332
00:22:03,300 --> 00:22:07,500
WITH GOODS LIKE GOLD, IVORY,
AND POTTERY BEING EXCHANGED
333
00:22:07,500 --> 00:22:09,767
FOR COPPER AND TIN.
334
00:22:12,267 --> 00:22:14,733
MUCH LIKE TODAY,
THE MEDITERRANEAN BECAME A
335
00:22:14,733 --> 00:22:18,933
SHIPPING SUPERHIGHWAY.
336
00:22:18,933 --> 00:22:21,100
BETTANY HUGHES: THERE'S A
KIND OF VOGUE FOR THE IDEA OF
337
00:22:21,100 --> 00:22:23,333
GLOBALIZATION BUT I TELL
YOU THAT IS NOTHING NEW.
338
00:22:23,333 --> 00:22:29,167
THIS WAS A VERY
GLOBALIZED WORLD.
339
00:22:29,167 --> 00:22:30,933
NARRATOR: WITH THEIR
CENTRAL LOCATION AND COMMAND
340
00:22:30,933 --> 00:22:32,667
OF THE SEA,
341
00:22:32,667 --> 00:22:34,700
EARLY GREEKS WOULD
HAVE BEEN WELL POSITIONED
342
00:22:34,700 --> 00:22:38,500
TO PARTAKE IN THIS
BRONZE AGE TRADE.
343
00:22:41,133 --> 00:22:43,667
BUT ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE
OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT CAN
344
00:22:43,667 --> 00:22:46,233
BE HARD TO COME BY.
345
00:22:46,233 --> 00:22:51,467
MUCH OF IT LIES AT
THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA.
346
00:22:51,467 --> 00:22:54,733
BEVERLY GOODMAN: SO MUCH
OF OUR HISTORY IS UNDERWATER.
347
00:22:54,733 --> 00:22:56,400
IF WE HAVE CHANGES
IN SEA LEVEL,
348
00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:59,700
BECAUSE THERE WAS AN
EARTHQUAKE, BECAUSE OF TRADE,
349
00:22:59,700 --> 00:23:02,300
THERE'S LOADS AND
LOADS OF SHIPWRECKS.
350
00:23:02,300 --> 00:23:04,967
AND IF WE JUST STOP AT
THE COASTLINE EVERY TIME,
351
00:23:04,967 --> 00:23:07,933
WE'RE MISSING OUT ON A LOT
OF THE INFORMATION THAT
352
00:23:07,933 --> 00:23:13,000
WE NEED TO GET.
353
00:23:24,733 --> 00:23:27,033
DEBORAH CARLSON: YOU HAVE
TO LOOK TO THE SEA AND
354
00:23:27,033 --> 00:23:29,367
YOU HAVE TO LOOK UNDER
THE SEA TO UNDERSTAND
355
00:23:29,367 --> 00:23:31,800
THE ANCIENT GREEKS.
356
00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:34,567
AND WE TRY TO THAT
WITH THE EXCAVATION
357
00:23:34,567 --> 00:23:39,067
OF ANCIENT SHIPWRECKS.
358
00:23:39,067 --> 00:23:41,367
NARRATOR: ONE TREASURE
TROVE OF CLUES HAS BEEN
359
00:23:41,367 --> 00:23:44,100
THE ULUBURUN,
ONE OF THE OLDEST,
360
00:23:44,100 --> 00:23:49,000
MOST COMPLETE
SHIPWRECKS EVER DISCOVERED.
361
00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:51,733
SHE WENT DOWN IN THE
EASTERN AEGEAN IN THE HEYDAY
362
00:23:51,733 --> 00:23:55,733
OF THE BRONZE AGE
AROUND 3,500 YEARS AGO.
363
00:23:55,733 --> 00:23:58,333
UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGISTS
AT THE INSTITUTE OF NAUTICAL
364
00:23:58,333 --> 00:24:01,800
ARCHAEOLOGY IN BODRUM,
TURKEY HAVE BEEN DIVING ON
365
00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:05,700
THE SITE SINCE THE 1980'S.
366
00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:05,700
THE SITE SINCE THE 1980'S.
367
00:24:08,967 --> 00:24:14,667
SO FAR THEY'VE RECOVERED
NEARLY 20,000 ARTIFACTS,
368
00:24:14,667 --> 00:24:17,467
INCLUDING OVER A
HUNDRED AMPHORAE,
369
00:24:17,467 --> 00:24:21,567
THE SHIPPING CONTAINERS
OF THE ANCIENT WORLD.
370
00:24:24,367 --> 00:24:30,133
AND ENOUGH COPPER AND TIN
TO YIELD 11 TONS OF BRONZE.
371
00:24:37,667 --> 00:24:40,000
TUBA EKMEKCI: WE ARE
LUCKY THAT THEY SANK AND
372
00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:44,367
WE FOUND THEM.
373
00:24:44,367 --> 00:24:47,867
NARRATOR: TUBA EKMEKCI
DIRECTS THE RESEARCH CENTER.
374
00:24:47,867 --> 00:24:51,867
TUBA EKMEKCI: IT IS LIKE A
TIME CAPSULE SHIP LOADED ON
375
00:24:51,867 --> 00:24:56,100
ONE DATE AND STARTS
SAILING AND SANK.
376
00:24:56,100 --> 00:25:00,767
SO EVERYTHING
BELONGS ONE DATE.
377
00:25:00,767 --> 00:25:04,500
THE COPPER WAS
COMING FROM CYPRUS,
378
00:25:04,500 --> 00:25:09,233
THE TIN WAS COMING
FROM AFGHANISTAN AREA.
379
00:25:09,233 --> 00:25:12,833
NARRATOR: THERE WAS
AMBER FROM THE BALTIC,
380
00:25:12,833 --> 00:25:18,067
EBONY AND IVORY FROM AFRICA,
AND GLASS INGOTS FROM EGYPT.
381
00:25:21,033 --> 00:25:25,867
TUBA EKMEKCI: IT WAS LIKE A
UNITED NATIONS, EVERYWHERE,
382
00:25:25,867 --> 00:25:29,333
THINK ABOUT THIS, ALL THESE
OBJECTS COMING FROM COMPLETELY
383
00:25:29,333 --> 00:25:33,900
DIFFERENT PLACES AND GOT
TOGETHER IN ONE BOAT.
384
00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:39,867
NARRATOR: IN ALL, THE SHIP
WAS CARRYING SOME 20 TONS OF
385
00:25:39,867 --> 00:25:43,533
LUXURY GOODS AND RAW MATERIALS
FROM NEARLY A DOZEN DIFFERENT
386
00:25:43,533 --> 00:25:47,867
ANCIENT CULTURES,
THE MOST REVEALING SNAPSHOT
387
00:25:47,867 --> 00:25:51,300
WE HAVE OF
BRONZE AGE TRADE.
388
00:25:51,300 --> 00:25:55,900
AND MANY BELIEVE SHE WAS
HEADED FOR THE AEGEAN ISLANDS.
389
00:25:55,900 --> 00:25:58,233
ERIC CLINE: ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS THAT WE ASK IS OF
390
00:25:58,233 --> 00:26:00,433
COURSE WHAT WOULD THE
REST OF THE WORLD POSSIBLY
391
00:26:00,433 --> 00:26:04,600
WANT FROM
GREECE AT THIS TIME?
392
00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:07,000
NARRATOR: TRADE FUELED THE
MOST POWERFUL BRONZE AGE
393
00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:10,567
CIVILIZATIONS, AND THE EARLY
GREEKS WOULD HAVE NEEDED TO
394
00:26:10,567 --> 00:26:14,033
BRING SOMETHING TO THE TABLE.
395
00:26:14,033 --> 00:26:16,800
THE FIRST CLUES ABOUT WHAT
THEY OFFERED CAME FROM ONE OF
396
00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:21,967
THE LARGEST ISLANDS IN
THE MEDITERRANEAN, CRETE,
397
00:26:21,967 --> 00:26:26,067
WHERE BY AROUND 2000 BC,
A NEW DOMINANT CULTURE HAD
398
00:26:26,067 --> 00:26:28,733
OVERTAKEN THE PEOPLE
OF THE CYCLADES.
399
00:26:35,867 --> 00:26:38,333
THOUGH THEY LEFT BEHIND
SOME OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY
400
00:26:38,333 --> 00:26:42,933
PALACES IN ANTIQUITY,
401
00:26:42,933 --> 00:26:47,200
WHO THEY WERE,
WHERE THEY CAME FROM,
402
00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:51,100
AND WHAT LANGUAGE THEY
SPOKE ARE STILL A MYSTERY.
403
00:26:55,267 --> 00:26:57,967
EVEN THE NAME MODERN DAY
ARCHAEOLOGISTS ASCRIBED TO
404
00:26:57,967 --> 00:27:03,467
THEM COMES FROM
GREEK MYTHOLOGY,
405
00:26:57,967 --> 00:27:03,467
THEM COMES FROM
GREEK MYTHOLOGY,
406
00:27:05,267 --> 00:27:11,333
THE MINOANS FROM MINOS,
THE INFAMOUS KING OF CRETE.
407
00:27:13,500 --> 00:27:17,433
DURING HIS REIGN, KING MINOS
EXACTED A GRUESOME TAX ON
408
00:27:17,433 --> 00:27:20,600
PRISONERS AND INNOCENTS
ALIKE, CASTING THEM INTO A
409
00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:24,433
TREACHEROUS LABYRINTH IN
THE DEPTHS OF HIS PALACE.
410
00:27:24,433 --> 00:27:28,133
THERE, THEY'D FACE
A FRIGHTENING BEAST,
411
00:27:28,133 --> 00:27:32,800
THE HALF MAN,
HALF BULL, MINOTAUR,
412
00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:38,200
WHICH WOULD DEVOUR THEM WHOLE.
413
00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:40,367
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
EVIDENCE, HOWEVER,
414
00:27:40,367 --> 00:27:42,600
IS PAINTING A VERY
DIFFERENT PICTURE OF THE
415
00:27:42,600 --> 00:27:46,267
PEOPLE WHO LIVED HERE.
416
00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:51,467
MARIA VLAZAKI: THE
MINOANS DEVELOPED THE FIRST
417
00:27:51,467 --> 00:27:54,267
GREAT EUROPEAN CIVILIZATION.
418
00:27:54,267 --> 00:27:57,600
THEY CAME INTO CONTACT EARLY
ON WITH THE GREAT PALACES OF
419
00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:03,800
EGYPT AND MESOPOTAMIA AND THEY
IN TURN FOUNDED GREAT PALACES.
420
00:28:07,133 --> 00:28:10,167
NARRATOR: THE EGYPTIANS HAD A
BIG HEAD START ON THE MINOANS,
421
00:28:10,167 --> 00:28:12,533
HAVING BUILT THEIR
GREAT PYRAMIDS AND SPHINX
422
00:28:12,533 --> 00:28:15,367
SOME 500 YEARS EARLIER.
423
00:28:15,367 --> 00:28:19,233
BUT BY 2000 BC, AS GOODS
AND PEOPLE WERE MOVING AROUND
424
00:28:19,233 --> 00:28:23,833
THE MEDITERRANEAN, INSPIRED
MINOANS BEGAN RAISING MAJESTIC
425
00:28:23,833 --> 00:28:27,800
STRUCTURES OF THEIR OWN.
426
00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:31,367
PALACES LIKE THIS ONE AT
KNOSSOS, THE ANCIENT CAPITAL,
427
00:28:31,367 --> 00:28:38,033
WERE ASTONISHINGLY ADVANCED,
COMPLETE WITH PAVED STREETS,
428
00:28:38,033 --> 00:28:44,767
THE FIRST IN EUROPE, FLUSH
TOILETS AND A SEWER SYSTEM.
429
00:28:44,767 --> 00:28:47,400
BETTANY HUGHES: THIS IS A
VERY EARLY CIVILIZATION AND
430
00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:49,633
YET IF YOU WALK
THROUGH THE PALACES THAT
431
00:28:49,633 --> 00:28:51,567
THE MINOANS CREATED,
432
00:28:51,567 --> 00:28:55,767
YOU'RE PASSING THROUGH THE
MOST EXQUISITE ARTIFACTS AND
433
00:28:55,767 --> 00:28:58,467
ARCHITECTURE THAT YOU
WOULD STILL BE PUSHED TO
434
00:28:58,467 --> 00:29:01,867
TRY FIND AROUND YOU
IN THE MODERN WORLD.
435
00:29:01,867 --> 00:29:05,300
THEY CREATED BUILDINGS
THAT HAD ANTI EARTHQUAKE
436
00:29:05,300 --> 00:29:10,133
ENGINEERING, BEAUTIFUL FINE
TEACUPS THAT ARE AS FINE AS
437
00:29:10,133 --> 00:29:13,767
THE KIND OF GREATEST
CHINESE PORCELAIN,
438
00:29:13,767 --> 00:29:17,867
AMAZING GOLD JEWELRY AND
EARRINGS AND NECKLACES.
439
00:29:17,867 --> 00:29:23,433
SO THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY
SOPHISTICATED CULTURE.
440
00:29:23,433 --> 00:29:25,767
NARRATOR: AND WITH THE
MINOAN'S COMMAND OF THE SEA,
441
00:29:25,767 --> 00:29:30,400
THIS CULTURE
DIDN'T STAY ON CRETE.
442
00:29:37,567 --> 00:29:42,133
THE MINOANS TOOK OVER MANY
OF THE NEARBY CYCLADIC ISLANDS,
443
00:29:42,133 --> 00:29:45,567
INCLUDING SANTORINI.
444
00:29:47,567 --> 00:29:49,133
TODAY, OF COURSE,
445
00:29:49,133 --> 00:29:53,467
THE ISLAND IS A
MAJOR TOURIST DESTINATION.
446
00:29:55,567 --> 00:29:59,600
BACK THEN IT WAS A
STRATEGIC TRADING POST THAT
447
00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:05,400
GAVE THE MINOANS ACCESS
TO POWERFUL NEIGHBORS.
448
00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:05,400
GAVE THE MINOANS ACCESS
TO POWERFUL NEIGHBORS.
449
00:30:06,900 --> 00:30:08,967
BUT TO PLAY IN THE BIG
LEAGUES WITH THE LIKES OF THE
450
00:30:08,967 --> 00:30:12,567
HITTITE EMPIRE IN
MESOPOTAMIA OR THE EGYPTIANS,
451
00:30:12,567 --> 00:30:14,833
THE MINOANS WOULD HAVE
TO OFFER MORE THAN FANCY
452
00:30:14,833 --> 00:30:17,433
POTS AND JEWELRY.
453
00:30:17,433 --> 00:30:19,667
ERIC CLINE: IF YOU LOOK
TO THE EGYPT AND THE EASTERN
454
00:30:19,667 --> 00:30:22,500
MEDITERRANEAN WHAT DO YOU
FIND THAT IS FROM GREECE?
455
00:30:22,500 --> 00:30:26,333
WELL, YOU FIND A LOT
OF THEIR POTTERY.
456
00:30:26,333 --> 00:30:28,700
NARRATOR: AND
INSIDE THE POTTERY?
457
00:30:28,700 --> 00:30:31,033
ERIC CLINE: PROBABLY
SOME OF IT IS PERFUME,
458
00:30:31,033 --> 00:30:36,767
WINE IS CERTAINLY NOT
OUT OF THE QUESTION.
459
00:30:36,767 --> 00:30:39,567
NARRATOR: AND ONE OTHER
COMMODITY THAT TO THIS DAY
460
00:30:39,567 --> 00:30:44,000
SPEAKS TO GREEK INGENUITY
AND RESOURCEFULNESS.
461
00:30:46,233 --> 00:30:49,267
ABOUT AN HOUR'S
DRIVE FROM KNOSSOS,
462
00:30:49,267 --> 00:30:52,200
STELIOS KALIOURIS'
FAMILY HAS BEEN CULTIVATING
463
00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:58,433
OLIVE TREES
FOR GENERATIONS.
464
00:30:58,433 --> 00:31:01,100
OLIVE OIL PRACTICALLY
FLOWS THROUGH PEOPLE'S
465
00:31:01,100 --> 00:31:04,400
VEINS ON CRETE.
466
00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:08,933
IT'S USED IN SOAPS,
MEDICINES, FOR STORING FOODS,
467
00:31:08,933 --> 00:31:11,867
EVEN CHRISTENING BABIES.
468
00:31:11,867 --> 00:31:14,300
AND IT WAS EVERY
BIT AS DESIRABLE BACK IN
469
00:31:14,300 --> 00:31:19,000
THE BRONZE AGE.
470
00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:21,100
ACCORDING TO ANCIENT TEXTS,
471
00:31:21,100 --> 00:31:25,567
THERE WERE THREE
BASIC ELEMENTS IN LIFE.
472
00:31:25,567 --> 00:31:30,633
MARIA VLAZAKI: FOOD, CLOTHES
AND YOU PERFUMED OLIVE OIL.
473
00:31:32,167 --> 00:31:33,867
YEAH, IT IS REAL.
474
00:31:33,867 --> 00:31:36,567
THEY WRITE LIKE THAT.
475
00:31:36,567 --> 00:31:39,800
IT WAS THE MEDICINE TO
MAKE THEIR LIFE BETTER AND
476
00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:44,533
TO LIVE LONGER.
477
00:31:44,533 --> 00:31:47,367
NARRATOR: BUT STARTING
AND TENDING OLIVE GROVES
478
00:31:47,367 --> 00:31:51,767
ISN'T NEARLY AS EASY AS
STELIOS MAKES IT LOOK.
479
00:31:51,767 --> 00:31:54,600
EDITH HALL: IT'S AN INCREDIBLE
AMOUNT OF PHYSICAL LABOR AND
480
00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:57,267
IT TAKES MANY YEARS
TO SETTLE IN BEFORE YOU GET
481
00:31:57,267 --> 00:31:58,667
A REALLY GOOD CROP.
482
00:31:58,667 --> 00:32:01,067
SO WHAT THIS REQUIRED OF
THE ANCIENT GREEKS WAS,
483
00:32:01,067 --> 00:32:04,633
WAS CONSIDERABLE PLANNING.
484
00:32:04,633 --> 00:32:06,700
YOU MIGHT NEVER
SEE A DECENT CROP.
485
00:32:06,700 --> 00:32:09,033
IT WOULD BE YOUR
GRANDSON WHO DID BEFORE IT
486
00:32:09,033 --> 00:32:12,500
STARTED TAKING ANY PROFIT.
487
00:32:14,900 --> 00:32:17,100
NARRATOR: ONLY AN
INNOVATIVE, RESOURCEFUL,
488
00:32:17,100 --> 00:32:20,033
AND PATIENT PEOPLE WERE
ABLE TO UNLOCK THE OLIVE'S
489
00:32:20,033 --> 00:32:25,600
POTENTIAL AND
REAP THE REWARDS.
490
00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:28,067
EDITH HALL: THE OLIVE IS
FUNDAMENTAL TO THE ANCIENT
491
00:32:28,067 --> 00:32:31,500
GREEK AND INDEED THE
MODERN GREEK IDENTITY.
492
00:32:31,500 --> 00:32:35,300
IT'S ALSO GOOD
FOR TRADING WITH.
493
00:32:35,300 --> 00:32:38,433
NARRATOR: DEMAND FOR
MINOAN OLIVE OIL WAS SO HIGH,
494
00:32:38,433 --> 00:32:44,167
ONCE IT BEGAN FLOWING, IT
BANKROLLED THEIR CIVILIZATION.
495
00:32:44,167 --> 00:32:46,133
EDITH HALL: SO THE OLIVE
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER TELLS YOU
496
00:32:46,133 --> 00:32:51,067
A VERY GREAT DEAL ABOUT THE
GREEK PERSONALITY AND INTELLECT.
497
00:32:52,767 --> 00:32:56,833
NARRATOR: AND THANKS TO
ANOTHER GREAT MINOAN CREATION,
498
00:32:56,833 --> 00:33:00,133
WE GET A VIVID DEPICTION OF
WHAT MINOAN LIFE WAS LIKE.
499
00:33:03,933 --> 00:33:06,967
BETTANY HUGHES: AMAZING
FRESCOS DESCRIBING THEIR WORLD
500
00:33:06,967 --> 00:33:09,433
AND THEIR IDEAS ABOUT
BOTH CULTURE AND ABOUT
501
00:33:09,433 --> 00:33:11,667
THE GODS AROUND THEM.
502
00:33:11,667 --> 00:33:15,000
NARRATOR: THE FRESCOES
DEPICTED A WORLD OF PLENTY,
503
00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:21,067
WITH STRONG, YOUTHFUL
HEROES, BOUNTIFUL WILDLIFE,
504
00:33:21,067 --> 00:33:25,100
LUSH LANDSCAPES AND
VIVID ILLUSTRATIONS OF HOW
505
00:33:25,100 --> 00:33:29,867
THE MINOANS INTERACTED
WITH AND TAMED THE SEA.
506
00:33:29,867 --> 00:33:34,267
MARIA VLAZAKI: WHEN CIVILIZATION
IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT,
507
00:33:34,267 --> 00:33:36,533
THEY DO MORE THINGS,
508
00:33:36,533 --> 00:33:41,567
NOT JUST TO EAT AND
TO PUT CLOTHES ON THEM.
509
00:33:41,567 --> 00:33:46,500
MINOANS DEVELOPED
A NICE LIFE,
510
00:33:46,500 --> 00:33:52,467
A WAY TO LIVE
BETTER THAN BEFORE.
511
00:33:52,467 --> 00:33:54,333
NEIL DE GRASSE TYSON:
SUCCESSFUL CIVILIZATIONS ARE
512
00:33:54,333 --> 00:33:58,700
THE ONES THAT MANAGE TO
BESTOW UPON ITS CITIZENRY THE
513
00:33:58,700 --> 00:34:02,800
LUXURY OF TIME THAT ENABLED
THEM TO THINK ABOUT THINGS
514
00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:07,033
OTHER THAN THEIR OWN SURVIVAL.
515
00:34:07,033 --> 00:34:09,433
NARRATOR: MINOAN FRESCOES
BECAME THE ENVY OF THE
516
00:34:09,433 --> 00:34:12,167
MEDITERRANEAN WORLD.
517
00:34:12,167 --> 00:34:15,100
THEIR REMNANTS HAVE BEEN
FOUND AS FAR AWAY AS EGYPT,
518
00:34:15,100 --> 00:34:17,700
ISRAEL AND TURKEY.
519
00:34:19,167 --> 00:34:20,867
ERIC CLINE: WE DON'T' KNOW
THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY MADE BY
520
00:34:20,867 --> 00:34:23,700
PEOPLE FROM CRETE OR
IF THEY ARE LOCALS THAT ARE
521
00:34:23,700 --> 00:34:25,367
TRAINED IN THAT STYLE.
522
00:34:25,367 --> 00:34:27,000
YOU REALLY CAN'T TELL.
523
00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:29,833
BUT DEFINITELY EITHER THE
ARTISTS THEMSELVES ARE BEING
524
00:34:29,833 --> 00:34:33,133
SENT AROUND OR MAYBE PEOPLE
FROM THE NEAR EAST THAT WENT
525
00:34:33,133 --> 00:34:36,433
TO CRETE LEARNED HOW TO
PAINT IN THAT STYLE AND
526
00:34:36,433 --> 00:34:39,667
THEN COME BACK.
527
00:34:44,367 --> 00:34:46,200
NARRATOR:
HOWEVER IT HAPPENED,
528
00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:49,233
THIS KIND OF EXCHANGE
REPRESENTS A CRUCIAL MOMENT
529
00:34:49,233 --> 00:34:50,900
FOR THE WORLD.
530
00:34:50,900 --> 00:34:53,267
MICHAEL COSMOPOULOS: SO WHEN
YOU TRAVEL TO OTHER PLACES,
531
00:34:53,267 --> 00:34:54,967
YOU DON'T JUST
BRING BACK PRODUCTS.
532
00:34:54,967 --> 00:34:58,467
YOU BRING BACK ALSO IDEAS.
533
00:34:58,467 --> 00:35:00,700
BILL PARKINSON: INTERACTION
IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL FOR
534
00:35:00,700 --> 00:35:04,167
INNOVATION, WHEN CULTURES
COME INTO CONTACT AND ARE
535
00:35:04,167 --> 00:35:09,633
EXCHANGING INFORMATION,
THAT CREATES NEW INFORMATION.
536
00:35:09,633 --> 00:35:14,933
IT SORT OF BUILDS ON ITSELF.
537
00:35:14,933 --> 00:35:17,367
NARRATOR: IT'S CLEAR THE
MINOANS WERE KEY PLAYERS IN
538
00:35:17,367 --> 00:35:22,200
THIS GLOBALIZED IDEA TRADE,
BUT THEIR ROLE IN GREECE'S
539
00:35:22,200 --> 00:35:26,600
RISE DIDN'T LAST LONG.
540
00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:29,467
BEGINNING IN
AROUND 1600 BC,
541
00:35:29,467 --> 00:35:32,133
RIGHT AT THE HEIGHT
OF THEIR CIVILIZATION,
542
00:35:32,133 --> 00:35:35,967
LIFE BEGAN TO CRUMBLE.
543
00:35:39,100 --> 00:35:41,833
FOR YEARS, THE LEADING
THEORY FOR THE MINOAN'S
544
00:35:41,833 --> 00:35:44,300
COLLAPSE WAS THAT THEY
WERE BROUGHT DOWN BY A
545
00:35:44,300 --> 00:35:48,233
MASSIVE VOLCANIC
ERUPTION ON SANTORINI.
546
00:35:48,233 --> 00:35:51,033
THE ERUPTION LEFT BEHIND
THE FAMILIAR CRATER BAY WE
547
00:35:51,033 --> 00:35:55,300
SEE HERE TODAY; IT WAS
EVEN OFFERED UP AS PROOF
548
00:35:55,300 --> 00:35:58,667
FOR THE MYTH OF ATLANTIS.
549
00:35:58,667 --> 00:36:01,433
BUT MORE RECENT EVIDENCE
REVEALS THE VOLCANO DID NOT
550
00:36:01,433 --> 00:36:05,267
WIPE OUT THE
MINOANS COMPLETELY.
551
00:36:01,433 --> 00:36:05,267
WIPE OUT THE
MINOANS COMPLETELY.
552
00:36:05,267 --> 00:36:07,867
EXCAVATIONS ON CRETE
INDICATE THEY WERE STILL
553
00:36:07,867 --> 00:36:14,533
THRIVING FOR ANOTHER 100
YEARS AFTER SANTORINI EXPLODED.
554
00:36:14,533 --> 00:36:18,467
THE MORE LIKELY CULPRIT
IS LESS CATACLYSMIC PERHAPS,
555
00:36:18,467 --> 00:36:21,900
BUT MORE INSIDIOUS.
556
00:36:21,900 --> 00:36:24,567
LONG BEFORE SANTORINI
BLEW HER TOP,
557
00:36:24,567 --> 00:36:28,300
A FRESCO DISCOVERED HERE AT
AKROTIRI SUGGESTS THE MINOANS
558
00:36:28,300 --> 00:36:31,967
MAY HAVE SUFFERED A
MORE VIOLENT FATE.
559
00:36:34,500 --> 00:36:38,267
THE FRESCO DEPICTS
AN INVASION,
560
00:36:41,633 --> 00:36:43,967
WITH THE MINOANS FALLING
VICTIM TO SOME OF THE ANCIENT
561
00:36:43,967 --> 00:36:47,433
WORLD'S FIERCEST WARRIORS.
562
00:36:49,833 --> 00:36:54,500
DONNING THEIR TRADEMARK
BOAR TUSK HELMETS,
563
00:36:54,500 --> 00:36:58,633
THESE WERE THE MYCENAEANS,
THE NEXT PEOPLE TO CARRY THE
564
00:36:58,633 --> 00:37:02,900
TORCH OF GREEK CIVILIZATION.
565
00:37:07,433 --> 00:37:13,433
THEIR KINGDOMS, CENTERED HERE
AT MYCENAE ON MAINLAND GREECE,
566
00:37:13,433 --> 00:37:16,900
ARE THE STUFF OF LEGEND.
567
00:37:21,700 --> 00:37:24,867
HUNDREDS OF YEARS LATER, THEY
WOULD BE FOREVER IMMORTALIZED
568
00:37:24,867 --> 00:37:27,500
IN PAINTINGS AND
IN EPIC POEMS LIKE
569
00:37:27,500 --> 00:37:32,100
THE ILIAD AND THE ODYSSEY,
570
00:37:37,467 --> 00:37:41,767
NOT TO MENTION
COUNTLESS HOLLYWOOD REVIVALS.
571
00:37:41,767 --> 00:37:46,967
IT WAS ALL INSPIRED BY THIS
MYCENAEAN AGE OF HEROES.
572
00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:50,800
THERE WAS HELEN OF TROY.
573
00:37:50,800 --> 00:37:53,367
WOMAN: "BEWARE THE
GREEKS BEARING GIFTS."
574
00:37:53,367 --> 00:37:54,567
NARRATOR: AND AGAMEMNON.
575
00:37:54,567 --> 00:37:56,700
MAN: "I WILL KILL THEE."
576
00:37:56,700 --> 00:37:58,833
"SO SHALL WE ALL BROTHER."
577
00:37:58,833 --> 00:38:00,300
NARRATOR:
AND WHO COULD FORGET:
578
00:38:00,300 --> 00:38:04,400
MAN: "THE
INVULNERABLE ACHILLES."
579
00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:07,000
BETTANY HUGHES: THIS WAS
KIND OF ONE OF THE FIRST DRAFTS
580
00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:09,933
ON GREEKNESS AND
THEY WERE EXTRAORDINARY,
581
00:38:09,933 --> 00:38:12,367
THEY LIVED
EXTRAORDINARY, EXCITING,
582
00:38:12,367 --> 00:38:17,500
SUMPTUOUS LIVES AND I'M SURE
THAT THE LATER GREEKS HEARD
583
00:38:17,500 --> 00:38:21,567
STORIES ABOUT THEM AND WERE
CONSTANTLY TRYING TO LIVE UP
584
00:38:21,567 --> 00:38:25,567
TO THAT WHICH HAD GONE
BEFORE TO THIS AGE OF HEROES.
585
00:38:29,667 --> 00:38:33,033
NARRATOR: BUT LONG BEFORE
THE MYCENAEANS BECAME LEGEND,
586
00:38:33,033 --> 00:38:37,367
THEY FIRST HAD TO
OUST THE MINOANS.
587
00:38:37,367 --> 00:38:40,133
IT'S NOT CLEAR
HOW THEY DID IT,
588
00:38:40,133 --> 00:38:44,033
WHETHER THROUGH A SERIES
OF BRUTAL INVASIONS OR
589
00:38:44,033 --> 00:38:48,133
JUST A GRADUAL TAKEOVER
AND ASSIMILATION.
590
00:38:48,133 --> 00:38:51,300
BUT ONE THING IS CLEAR
THROUGHOUT GREEK HISTORY:
591
00:38:51,300 --> 00:38:55,567
THE CULTURE ALWAYS
SEEMS TO CARRY THROUGH.
592
00:38:55,567 --> 00:38:58,867
KIM SHELTON: EARLY ON YOU
CAN SEE THAT THE MYCENAEANS
593
00:38:58,867 --> 00:39:02,333
ARE REALLY IN AWE
OF WHAT THE MINOANS HAVE,
594
00:39:02,333 --> 00:39:08,733
AND IN SOME CASES I WOULD
SAY THEY EVEN IMITATE THEM.
595
00:39:02,333 --> 00:39:08,733
AND IN SOME CASES I WOULD
SAY THEY EVEN IMITATE THEM.
596
00:39:08,733 --> 00:39:10,867
MICHAEL COSMOPOULOS: WE HAVE
CASES WHERE MYCENAEAN RULERS
597
00:39:10,867 --> 00:39:14,933
WILL DECORATE THEIR HOUSES,
THEIR PALACES IF YOU WANT WITH
598
00:39:14,933 --> 00:39:19,233
WALL PAINTINGS AND FRESCOES
INSPIRED FROM THE MINOANS OR
599
00:39:19,233 --> 00:39:23,400
THEY WILL IMPORT MINOAN
LUXURY ITEMS AS SIGNS OF
600
00:39:23,400 --> 00:39:26,133
THEIR CONNECTION WITH
THE MORE SOPHISTICATED AND
601
00:39:26,133 --> 00:39:30,567
POWERFUL CULTURE.
602
00:39:30,567 --> 00:39:33,267
NARRATOR: AND THE MYCENAEANS
DIDN'T LIMIT THESE CULTURAL
603
00:39:33,267 --> 00:39:36,967
APPROPRIATIONS
TO THE MINOANS.
604
00:39:36,967 --> 00:39:39,933
THEIR BEEHIVE SHAPED
BURIAL MOUNDS AT MYCENAE,
605
00:39:39,933 --> 00:39:44,900
FOR EXAMPLE, RESEMBLE
UNDERGROUND TOMBS FROM EGYPT.
606
00:39:44,900 --> 00:39:48,333
MYCENAE'S FAMED LION'S
GATE MIMICS THE SCULPTED
607
00:39:48,333 --> 00:39:52,933
LIONS FLANKING THE ANCIENT
HITTITE CAPITAL AT HATTUSA.
608
00:39:52,933 --> 00:39:55,333
KIM SHELTON: THE MYCENAEANS
WERE ALWAYS GOOD AT COMBINING
609
00:39:55,333 --> 00:39:57,000
THE THINGS THAT THEY LIKED.
610
00:39:57,000 --> 00:40:01,033
THEY WERE ABLE TO BE INSPIRED
AND EVEN TAKE ELEMENTS FROM
611
00:40:01,033 --> 00:40:05,700
OTHER CULTURES, BUT
COMBINE THEM WITH THEIR OWN.
612
00:40:05,700 --> 00:40:07,867
NARRATOR: BUT WHEN
IT CAME TO THE MINOANS,
613
00:40:07,867 --> 00:40:10,800
THE MYCENAEANS DID
MORE THAN JUST BORROW.
614
00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:14,767
MYCENAEAN KINGS TOOK
OVER MINOAN PALACES,
615
00:40:14,767 --> 00:40:18,733
INCLUDING KNOSSOS.
616
00:40:18,733 --> 00:40:21,300
THEY DOMINATED
THE MINOANS AT SEA,
617
00:40:21,300 --> 00:40:25,200
COMMANDEERING
THEIR TRADE ROUTES.
618
00:40:25,200 --> 00:40:28,800
BEFORE LONG, THE MINOANS
FADED INTO HISTORY,
619
00:40:28,800 --> 00:40:32,067
WHILE THE
MYCENAEANS FLOURISHED,
620
00:40:32,067 --> 00:40:36,367
EXPANDING THEIR CIVILIZATION
AROUND THE AEGEAN.
621
00:40:37,867 --> 00:40:40,367
AND THE WAY THEY HELD
THIS VAST NETWORK OF STATES
622
00:40:40,367 --> 00:40:45,567
TOGETHER WAS WITH ONE FINAL
MINOAN APPROPRIATION, WRITING.
623
00:40:49,300 --> 00:40:54,400
MINOANS WROTE IN A SCRIPT
ARCHAEOLOGISTS CALL "LINEAR A."
624
00:40:58,000 --> 00:41:01,600
TEXTS HAVE BEEN FOUND ALL
OVER PALACES LIKE KNOSSOS BUT
625
00:41:01,600 --> 00:41:05,533
UNFORTUNATELY NOT ENOUGH
TO DECIPHER WHAT THEY SAY.
626
00:41:07,267 --> 00:41:10,267
IN PERHAPS THEIR SMARTEST
APPROPRIATION OF ALL,
627
00:41:10,267 --> 00:41:13,500
THE MYCENAEANS TOOK
THE LINEAR A SYMBOLS,
628
00:41:13,500 --> 00:41:17,600
ADAPTED THEM INTO A NEW
SCRIPT KNOWN AS "LINEAR B" AND
629
00:41:17,600 --> 00:41:22,967
BEGAN USING IT TO JOT DOWN
WORDS IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE.
630
00:41:22,967 --> 00:41:25,367
DECIPHERED IN THE MID-1950'S,
631
00:41:25,367 --> 00:41:28,067
WE NOW KNOW LINEAR B
IS AN EARLY FORM OF
632
00:41:28,067 --> 00:41:31,600
THE GREEK LANGUAGE.
633
00:41:31,600 --> 00:41:35,167
AND SINCE LANGUAGE IS THE KEY
DEFINER OF A CIVILIZATION,
634
00:41:35,167 --> 00:41:37,700
WE CAN NOW DESIGNATE
THE MYCENAEANS AS THE
635
00:41:37,700 --> 00:41:41,700
FIRST TRUE GREEKS.
636
00:41:48,233 --> 00:41:51,233
THOUSANDS OF YEARS LATER,
WE'RE STILL FINDING AND
637
00:41:51,233 --> 00:41:54,867
READING THEIR EARLY TEXTS.
638
00:41:56,233 --> 00:41:58,833
ON THE SOUTHWEST
COAST OF GREECE,
639
00:41:58,833 --> 00:42:04,267
THE TOWN OF PYLOS STRADDLES
BOTH MYTH AND HISTORY.
640
00:41:58,833 --> 00:42:04,267
THE TOWN OF PYLOS STRADDLES
BOTH MYTH AND HISTORY.
641
00:42:04,267 --> 00:42:07,767
IN HOMER'S ODYSSEY,
THIS IS WHERE TELEMACHUS,
642
00:42:07,767 --> 00:42:09,867
SON OF THE FAMED ODYSSEUS,
643
00:42:09,867 --> 00:42:14,633
FIRST PUTS TO SHORE
IN SEARCH OF HIS FATHER.
644
00:42:14,633 --> 00:42:17,533
ODYSSEUS HAD BEEN MIA
FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS SINCE
645
00:42:17,533 --> 00:42:21,567
FIGHTING THE TROJAN WAR.
646
00:42:21,567 --> 00:42:25,100
TO HELP HIM FIND HIS DAD,
THE GODDESS ATHENA SENT
647
00:42:25,100 --> 00:42:28,667
TELEMACHUS TO SEEK THE
COUNSEL OF WISE KING NESTOR,
648
00:42:28,667 --> 00:42:32,700
WHO SERVED WITH
ODYSSEUS IN TROY.
649
00:42:35,800 --> 00:42:39,000
AND FOR THE LAST 7 DECADES,
HIGH ON A CLIFF OUTSIDE OF
650
00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:42,233
MODERN DAY PYLOS,
ARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVE BEEN
651
00:42:42,233 --> 00:42:45,700
DIGGING UP NESTOR'S PALACE.
652
00:42:50,167 --> 00:42:54,900
ALONGSIDE VATS OF WINE AND
THOUSANDS OF ANCIENT CUPS,
653
00:42:54,900 --> 00:42:57,900
NESTOR SEEMS TO HAVE
THROWN A GOOD PARTY,
654
00:42:57,900 --> 00:43:03,533
WERE 1,000-ODD
LINEAR B TABLET FRAGMENTS.
655
00:43:03,533 --> 00:43:06,200
BUT SHARI STOCKER,
LEAD EXCAVATOR HERE,
656
00:43:06,200 --> 00:43:10,967
EXPLAINS THEY WERE A
FAR CRY FROM EPIC POETRY.
657
00:43:10,967 --> 00:43:12,767
SHARI STOCKER:
THE LINEAR B TABLETS ARE
658
00:43:12,767 --> 00:43:14,267
MOSTLY LISTS OF THINGS.
659
00:43:14,267 --> 00:43:15,633
WHAT PEOPLE
BRING TO THE PALACE,
660
00:43:15,633 --> 00:43:17,100
WHAT THEY OWE TO THE PALACE,
661
00:43:17,100 --> 00:43:21,067
THINGS THAT ARE
DONATED TO THE GODS.
662
00:43:21,067 --> 00:43:28,067
NARRATOR: OFFERINGS TO ZEUS
AND HERMES, GOODS LIKE OLIVES,
663
00:43:30,033 --> 00:43:37,767
BARLEY, GOATS AND WINE,
WRITING IN THESE EARLY DAYS
664
00:43:37,767 --> 00:43:40,267
WAS THE EQUIVALENT
OF CENSUS RECORDS AND
665
00:43:40,267 --> 00:43:42,500
PRODUCT INVENTORIES,
666
00:43:42,500 --> 00:43:45,167
SCRATCHED INTO CLAY
BY ANCIENT ACCOUNTANTS
667
00:43:45,167 --> 00:43:47,367
TO ADMINISTER SOCIETY.
668
00:43:47,367 --> 00:43:49,300
SHARI STOCKER: THEY WERE
NEVER MEANT TO BE PRESERVED;
669
00:43:49,300 --> 00:43:52,267
THEY WERE RECORDED ON
CLAY, BUT IT WAS RAW CLAY,
670
00:43:52,267 --> 00:43:54,167
SO AT THE
END OF EACH SEASON,
671
00:43:54,167 --> 00:43:56,433
THEY COULD JUST
PUT THEM IN WATER AND,
672
00:43:56,433 --> 00:44:01,500
YOU KNOW, REFORM THE
CLAY AND MAKE NEW TABLETS.
673
00:44:01,500 --> 00:44:03,000
NARRATOR: IN FACT,
674
00:44:03,000 --> 00:44:04,800
THE ONLY TABLETS
TO SURVIVE ARE THE
675
00:44:04,800 --> 00:44:07,433
ONES THAT WERE DISCARDED,
ACCIDENTALLY BAKED AND
676
00:44:07,433 --> 00:44:11,200
HARDENED IN BURNING
ANCIENT TRASH HEAPS,
677
00:44:11,200 --> 00:44:14,933
OR WHEN A PALACE WAS
BURNT AND DESTROYED.
678
00:44:14,933 --> 00:44:16,833
SHARI STOCKER: SO IT IS
PURELY HAPPENSTANCE THAT WE
679
00:44:16,833 --> 00:44:21,467
HAVE THIS ARCHIVE PRESERVED.
680
00:44:21,467 --> 00:44:24,333
NARRATOR: RECENTLY, ONE
SUCH PIECE OF ANCIENT TRASH
681
00:44:24,333 --> 00:44:27,000
FOUND AT A SMALL TOWN
CALLED IKLAINA,
682
00:44:27,000 --> 00:44:30,900
ABOUT 24 MILES NORTH OF
PYLOS, BECAME ARCHAEOLOGIST
683
00:44:30,900 --> 00:44:34,400
MICHAEL COSMOPOULOS' TREASURE.
684
00:44:34,400 --> 00:44:38,733
[INAUDIBLE CHATTER]
685
00:44:38,733 --> 00:44:41,300
IT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE MUCH
BUT THIS IS THE OLDEST
686
00:44:41,300 --> 00:44:44,133
PIECE OF GREEK WRITING
EVER DISCOVERED.
687
00:44:46,000 --> 00:44:50,600
THE EARLIEST WRITING
SAMPLE FROM MAINLAND EUROPE,
688
00:44:50,600 --> 00:44:54,267
DATING TO
THE 15TH CENTURY BC.
689
00:44:54,267 --> 00:44:56,433
LIKE ALL THE OTHER
LINEAR B TABLETS,
690
00:44:56,433 --> 00:45:00,333
IT'S NOT THE WORDS THAT
HAVE EVERYONE HERE EXCITED.
691
00:45:00,333 --> 00:45:04,267
ON ONE SIDE THERE'S A
MAN'S NAME, "LAT-UK-HOS,"
692
00:45:00,333 --> 00:45:04,267
ON ONE SIDE THERE'S A
MAN'S NAME, "LAT-UK-HOS,"
693
00:45:04,267 --> 00:45:08,667
FOLLOWED BY THE NUMBER, ONE.
694
00:45:08,667 --> 00:45:11,033
THE OTHER SIDE CONTAINS
WHAT SEEMS TO BE A HEADING
695
00:45:11,033 --> 00:45:14,200
FOR A LIST OF GOODS.
696
00:45:16,167 --> 00:45:19,167
BUT THAT THE TABLET
WAS FOUND HERE AT ALL,
697
00:45:19,167 --> 00:45:22,600
WAY OUT IN THE BOONIES,
IS A BIG SURPRISE.
698
00:45:24,000 --> 00:45:25,400
CYNTHIA SHELMERDINE:
THIS IS SMALL AND THERE IS
699
00:45:25,400 --> 00:45:26,733
ONLY ONE OF IT.
700
00:45:26,733 --> 00:45:30,933
BUT IT'S THE ONLY TABLET THAT
HAS EVER BEEN FOUND AT A TOWN
701
00:45:30,933 --> 00:45:36,433
SITE INSTEAD OF A PALACE
SITE ON THE GREEK MAINLAND.
702
00:45:36,433 --> 00:45:39,000
NARRATOR: UNTIL NOW, WE
THOUGHT THAT WRITING WAS ONLY
703
00:45:39,000 --> 00:45:42,967
USED IN MAJOR CITIES
LIKE PYLOS AND MYCENAE,
704
00:45:42,967 --> 00:45:47,067
THAT NO ONE ELSE
COULD READ OR WRITE.
705
00:45:47,067 --> 00:45:49,500
BUT THE IKLAINA TABLET
SHOWS OTHERWISE AND
706
00:45:49,500 --> 00:45:52,767
THAT HAS BROADER IMPLICATIONS.
707
00:45:54,800 --> 00:45:57,667
WITH WRITING IN
MORE COMMON USE,
708
00:45:57,667 --> 00:46:00,467
THE REACH OF MYCENAEAN
KINGDOMS MAY HAVE BEEN MUCH
709
00:46:00,467 --> 00:46:04,300
MORE EXTENSIVE AND ADVANCED.
710
00:46:06,967 --> 00:46:09,300
RULERS WEREN'T JUST RECORDING
THE COMINGS AND GOINGS OF
711
00:46:09,300 --> 00:46:13,567
GOODS AND WORKERS
AT THEIR PALACES,
712
00:46:13,567 --> 00:46:16,700
WRITING HAD GIVEN THEM
CONTROL OVER A MUCH WIDER,
713
00:46:16,700 --> 00:46:19,167
MORE SOPHISTICATED NETWORK,
714
00:46:19,167 --> 00:46:21,400
ALLOWING THEM TO
KEEP TRACK OF COMMUNITIES
715
00:46:21,400 --> 00:46:25,933
MUCH FARTHER AFIELD.
716
00:46:25,933 --> 00:46:28,133
CYNTHIA SHELMERDINE: IF YOU
SEE WRITTEN ADMINISTRATION,
717
00:46:28,133 --> 00:46:29,633
YOU KNOW THAT YOU
HAVE HIT THE BIG TIME.
718
00:46:29,633 --> 00:46:31,800
THAT IS WHEN WE START
TO TALK ABOUT STATES
719
00:46:31,800 --> 00:46:36,267
AND COMPLEX BUREAUCRACY.
720
00:46:36,267 --> 00:46:38,300
NARRATOR:
FOR COSMOPOULOS' TEAM,
721
00:46:38,300 --> 00:46:41,333
THIS TINY PIECE OF
CLAY OFFERS EVIDENCE OF AN
722
00:46:41,333 --> 00:46:45,967
IMPORTANT TURNING POINT
FOR WESTERN CIVILIZATION:
723
00:46:45,967 --> 00:46:49,233
THE BIRTH OF STATES.
724
00:46:49,233 --> 00:46:51,133
MICHAEL COSMOPOULOS:
WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF STATES,
725
00:46:51,133 --> 00:46:53,767
BUT IT WASN'T
ALWAYS LIKE THIS.
726
00:46:53,767 --> 00:46:56,733
THE TRANSITION FROM A
WORLD WITHOUT STATES TO
727
00:46:56,733 --> 00:47:01,833
A WORLD WHERE STATES DOMINATE
EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIFE,
728
00:47:01,833 --> 00:47:04,200
IT'S ONE OF THE
MOST FASCINATING CHAPTERS
729
00:47:04,200 --> 00:47:07,467
IN HUMAN HISTORY.
730
00:47:07,467 --> 00:47:10,500
NARRATOR: ARCHAEOLOGY TENDS
TO FOCUS ON LARGER CITIES,
731
00:47:10,500 --> 00:47:14,767
WITH TEMPLES,
MONUMENTS AND PALACES,
732
00:47:14,767 --> 00:47:18,433
OVERLOOKING SMALLER
CITIES LIKE IKLAINA.
733
00:47:20,100 --> 00:47:21,833
MICHAEL COSMOPOULOS:
IT'S LIKE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
734
00:47:21,833 --> 00:47:23,967
HOW THE UNITED STATES
WAS FORMED.
735
00:47:23,967 --> 00:47:26,467
IN ORDER TO DO THAT,
YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE
736
00:47:26,467 --> 00:47:29,667
HISTORY NOT ONLY OF
THE CAPITAL, WASHINGTON, DC,
737
00:47:29,667 --> 00:47:32,700
AND THE RECORDS THERE,
BUT ALSO THE HISTORY OF
738
00:47:32,700 --> 00:47:36,767
THE SPECIFIC STATES.
739
00:47:36,767 --> 00:47:39,533
NARRATOR: THROUGH IKLAINA WE
GET A SENSE FOR HOW STATES IN
740
00:47:39,533 --> 00:47:42,267
EARLY GREECE CAME TOGETHER,
741
00:47:42,267 --> 00:47:45,967
AS BIGGER CITIES STARTED
TAKING OVER LESS POWERFUL ONES.
742
00:47:47,533 --> 00:47:48,900
MICHAEL COSMOPOULOS:
THIS WAS A CITY,
743
00:47:48,900 --> 00:47:52,033
THIS WAS A CITY THAT IN MANY
WAYS WAS SIMILAR TO THE CITIES
744
00:47:52,033 --> 00:47:54,733
THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
745
00:47:54,733 --> 00:47:57,800
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS AN
AREA WITH GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS,
746
00:47:57,800 --> 00:48:01,167
WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE STANDING
RIGHT NOW, AND THE TOWN,
747
00:48:01,167 --> 00:48:03,700
THE RESIDENTIAL
QUARTERS, THE HOUSES,
748
00:48:01,167 --> 00:48:03,700
THE RESIDENTIAL
QUARTERS, THE HOUSES,
749
00:48:03,700 --> 00:48:08,067
SPRAWLED ALL AROUND THIS AREA.
750
00:48:08,067 --> 00:48:11,767
NARRATOR: THERE WAS RUNNING
WATER, EXTENSIVE ROADS,
751
00:48:11,767 --> 00:48:15,833
AND MASSIVE STONE WALLS,
THOUGHT BY LATER GREEKS TO
752
00:48:15,833 --> 00:48:21,100
HAVE BEEN BUILT BY
THE MYTHICAL CYCLOPS.
753
00:48:21,100 --> 00:48:23,667
COSMOPOULOS SUSPECTS THE
THRIVING CITY MUST HAVE BEEN
754
00:48:23,667 --> 00:48:27,167
ENTICING AND THAT IT WASN'T
LONG BEFORE IT WAS OVERTAKEN
755
00:48:27,167 --> 00:48:31,833
BY A MORE POWERFUL
KING BASED IN PYLOS.
756
00:48:31,833 --> 00:48:34,233
MICHAEL COSMOPOULOS: WITH
EVERY TERRITORY THAT HE
757
00:48:34,233 --> 00:48:37,133
ANNEXED, HIS STATE EXPANDED,
BECAME MORE COMPLEX.
758
00:48:37,133 --> 00:48:40,267
YOU HAVE THE CENTRAL
CAPITAL, TITUK, AND THEN
759
00:48:40,267 --> 00:48:44,367
A NUMBER OF DISTRICT,
SEMI-INDEPENDENT, CAPITALS.
760
00:48:44,367 --> 00:48:49,633
THIS IS THE HYPOTHESIS
THAT WE ARE WORKING ON.
761
00:48:49,633 --> 00:48:52,000
NARRATOR: THE MYCENAEANS
LIKELY WENT ON ABSORBING
762
00:48:52,000 --> 00:48:55,067
CITIES AND TERRITORIES
ACROSS GREECE IN THIS WAY
763
00:48:55,067 --> 00:49:00,833
AS THEY
EXPANDED THEIR EMPIRE.
764
00:49:00,833 --> 00:49:03,600
BY AROUND 1200 BC,
765
00:49:03,600 --> 00:49:09,267
THEY'D EARNED THEIR
LEGENDARY REPUTATION.
766
00:49:09,267 --> 00:49:12,833
FOR THOSE AT THE
TOP, LIFE WAS GOOD.
767
00:49:12,833 --> 00:49:14,867
MICHAEL COSMOPOULOS:
IF YOU WERE A MEMBER OF THE
768
00:49:14,867 --> 00:49:16,633
UPPER CLASS, IT WOULD
HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL,
769
00:49:16,633 --> 00:49:21,500
BECAUSE YOU WOULD LIVE IN A
PALATIAL RESIDENCE, A MANSION.
770
00:49:21,500 --> 00:49:25,233
LIKELY YOU WOULD HAVE SLAVES.
771
00:49:25,233 --> 00:49:27,100
NARRATOR: BUT
BRONZE AGE PROSPERITY HARDLY
772
00:49:27,100 --> 00:49:29,700
TRICKLED DOWN.
773
00:49:29,700 --> 00:49:32,867
BETTANY HUGHES: SO THIS WAS
NOT IN ANY WAY EGALITARIAN,
774
00:49:32,867 --> 00:49:35,000
IT WAS ONLY A CERTAIN TINY,
775
00:49:35,000 --> 00:49:38,433
TINY PERCENTAGE OF THE
GREEKS WHO ARE BENEFITING.
776
00:49:38,433 --> 00:49:45,067
IT IS ALMOST SO PERFECT FOR
SO FEW IT'S BOUND TO COLLAPSE.
777
00:49:46,367 --> 00:49:49,400
NARRATOR: AND COLLAPSE IT DID.
778
00:49:51,900 --> 00:49:55,767
IF THERE WERE
HEADLINES IN 1200 BC,
779
00:49:55,767 --> 00:49:58,600
THEY WOULD SOUND FREAKISHLY
FAMILIAR TO OURS TODAY.
780
00:50:00,200 --> 00:50:01,733
ERIC CLINE: WE HAVE DROUGHT.
781
00:50:01,733 --> 00:50:03,067
WE HAVE FAMINE.
782
00:50:03,067 --> 00:50:04,267
WE'VE GOT EARTHQUAKES.
783
00:50:04,267 --> 00:50:07,900
WE HAVE INVADERS,
WE HAVE INTERNAL REBELLIONS.
784
00:50:07,900 --> 00:50:11,233
NARRATOR: THERE WERE EVEN
MYSTERY WARRIORS FROM THE SEA,
785
00:50:11,233 --> 00:50:13,533
ACCORDING TO ANCIENT TEXTS.
786
00:50:13,533 --> 00:50:15,767
AND SOME, OR ALL OF THESE,
787
00:50:15,767 --> 00:50:20,467
BROUGHT THE MYCENAEANS
TO THEIR KNEES.
788
00:50:20,467 --> 00:50:24,067
MICHAEL COSMOPOULOS:
CIVILIZATION IS OBLITERATED.
789
00:50:24,067 --> 00:50:27,833
LITTLE BY LITTLE THE
MYCENAEAN CAPITALS ARE EITHER
790
00:50:27,833 --> 00:50:32,433
ABANDONED OR SOME OF THEM
ARE DESTROYED VIOLENTLY.
791
00:50:32,433 --> 00:50:36,233
BY APPROXIMATELY 1,000 BC
THE MYCENAEAN CIVILIZATION
792
00:50:36,233 --> 00:50:39,967
IS A THING OF THE PAST.
793
00:50:39,967 --> 00:50:44,400
NARRATOR: AND THE DEVASTATION
WASN'T CONFINED TO GREECE.
794
00:50:44,400 --> 00:50:46,767
ONCE THE DOMINOES
BEGAN TO FALL,
795
00:50:46,767 --> 00:50:50,667
THE GLOBALIZED BRONZE AGE
WORLD WOULD NEVER BE THE SAME.
796
00:50:54,400 --> 00:50:56,033
ERIC CLINE: WE'VE
GOT A SYSTEMS COLLAPSE,
797
00:50:56,033 --> 00:50:58,700
IS WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE.
798
00:50:58,700 --> 00:51:02,300
OVER A PERIOD OF 200 YEARS,
YOU GO FROM THE HEIGHT OF
799
00:51:02,300 --> 00:51:06,400
CIVILIZATION TO ALMOST
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
800
00:51:02,300 --> 00:51:06,400
CIVILIZATION TO ALMOST
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
801
00:51:08,700 --> 00:51:10,333
THE GREAT EMPIRES ARE GONE.
802
00:51:10,333 --> 00:51:12,600
NO MORE HITTITES,
NO MORE ASSYRIANS,
803
00:51:12,600 --> 00:51:15,433
NO MORE BABYLONIANS, EVEN
THE EGYPTIANS HAVE BEEN SO
804
00:51:15,433 --> 00:51:17,500
WEAKENED THAT THEY ARE
JUST A SHADOW OF WHAT THEY
805
00:51:17,500 --> 00:51:21,833
HAD ONCE BEEN.
806
00:51:21,833 --> 00:51:26,500
NARRATOR: IT WAS THE WORST
COLLAPSE IN HUMAN HISTORY.
807
00:51:26,500 --> 00:51:29,633
WE WEREN'T BACK TO
LIVING IN CAVES EXACTLY,
808
00:51:29,633 --> 00:51:34,600
BUT CIVILIZATION
SUFFERED A TRAGIC BLOW.
809
00:51:34,600 --> 00:51:38,633
THOSE GIFTS PROMETHEUS HAD
ENDOWED UPON THE GREEKS,
810
00:51:38,633 --> 00:51:44,367
WRITING, SCIENCE, ART,
WERE ALL BUT EXTINGUISHED.
811
00:51:46,300 --> 00:51:49,067
ERIC CLINE: SO WE
GET WHAT WE REFER TO AS THE
812
00:51:49,067 --> 00:51:51,533
FIRST DARK AGES.
813
00:51:51,533 --> 00:51:55,000
AND OUT OF THAT THEY
HAVE TO CLIMB BACK UP.
814
00:51:55,000 --> 00:51:57,967
THEY WILL, WE ARE GOING
TO GET CLASSICAL GREECE.
815
00:51:57,967 --> 00:52:02,033
WE ARE GOING TO GET ATHENS
AND SPARTA, AND DEMOCRACY.
816
00:52:02,033 --> 00:52:05,867
BUT IT IS GOING
TO TAKE A WHILE.
817
00:52:11,967 --> 00:52:17,300
[AUDIENCE APPLAUSE]
818
00:52:17,300 --> 00:52:20,433
NARRATOR: THE OPULENT
BRONZE AGE WAS OVER,
819
00:52:20,433 --> 00:52:24,433
BUT THE LIGHTS DIDN'T
GO OUT ON GREECE COMPLETELY.
820
00:52:24,433 --> 00:52:26,900
WERE IT NOT FOR THESE
DARK TIMES, IN FACT,
821
00:52:26,900 --> 00:52:28,900
THE GREEKS MIGHT
NEVER HAVE ACHIEVED THE
822
00:52:28,900 --> 00:52:32,600
GOLDEN AGE TO COME.
823
00:52:34,133 --> 00:52:37,200
MARIA VLAZAKI: WE HAVE
THE GREAT DESTRUCTIONS,
824
00:52:37,200 --> 00:52:42,733
BUT IN THE UNIVERSE, ONE
CIVILIZATION STARTS ENDS AND
825
00:52:42,733 --> 00:52:46,100
ANOTHER RISES FROM THE ASHES.
826
00:52:46,100 --> 00:52:48,567
NARRATOR: LIKE THE
MYTHICAL GREEK PHOENIX,
827
00:52:48,567 --> 00:52:51,933
OUT OF THE ASHES OF PALACES
AND KINGDOMS WOULD RISE
828
00:52:51,933 --> 00:52:54,100
A NEW CIVILIZATION.
829
00:52:54,100 --> 00:52:57,167
AND THIS TIME THE GODS'
GIFTS WOULDN'T BE RESERVED
830
00:52:57,167 --> 00:52:59,267
FOR A SELECT FEW ELITE,
831
00:52:59,267 --> 00:53:02,500
THEY'D BE
AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.
832
00:53:02,500 --> 00:53:04,267
BETTANY HUGHES:
IT IS VERY RARELY THAT THERE
833
00:53:04,267 --> 00:53:05,967
IS A TOTAL DISASTER.
834
00:53:05,967 --> 00:53:09,500
AS A SPECIES WE ARE VERY
GOOD AT FINDING THE BENEFIT,
835
00:53:09,500 --> 00:53:11,433
OF MANAGING TO KIND OF
MAKE THINGS BETTER EVEN IF
836
00:53:11,433 --> 00:53:15,100
IT CAN TAKE US QUITE A
FEW CENTURIES TO DO THAT.
837
00:53:15,100 --> 00:53:17,867
NARRATOR: BORN OUT OF CHAOS,
838
00:53:17,867 --> 00:53:22,267
DELIVERED FROM CAVES,
TESTED BY THE SEA,
839
00:53:25,533 --> 00:53:30,200
AND FORGED IN AN AGE
OF HEROES AND BRONZE,
840
00:53:30,200 --> 00:53:33,700
THESE RESTLESS, RESOURCEFUL,
841
00:53:33,700 --> 00:53:38,200
INNOVATIVE PEOPLE WOULD
FINALLY BE FREE TO CARRY THE
842
00:53:38,200 --> 00:53:41,633
TORCH OF PROGRESS
ON THEIR OWN.
843
00:53:55,300 --> 00:53:57,433
TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM,
844
00:53:57,433 --> 00:54:01,267
VISIT PBS.ORG.
845
00:54:06,867 --> 00:54:09,867
"THE GREEKS"
IS AVAILABLE ON DVD.
846
00:54:09,867 --> 00:54:12,467
THE COMPANION BOOK
IS ALSO AVAILABLE.
847
00:54:12,467 --> 00:54:15,400
TO ORDER, VISIT SHOPPBS.ORG
848
00:54:15,400 --> 00:54:19,533
OR CALL 1-800-PLAY-PBS.
849
00:54:15,400 --> 00:54:20,467
"THE GREEKS" WAS MADE POSSIB
69325
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