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
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DELIVERED FROM CAVES,
TESTED BY THE SEA,

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AND FORGED IN AN AGE
OF HEROES AND BRONZE,

840
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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
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"THE GREEKS" WAS MADE POSSIB