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| CATEGORY: | Video |
| MANUFACTURER: | PBS Home Video |
| MPAA RATING: | Unrated |
| FEATURES: | Color, NTSC |
| TYPE: | Documentary, Movie |
| MEDIA: | VHS Tape |
| # OF MEDIA: | 4 |
| UPC: | 841887004091 |
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Customer Reviews of Secrets of the Dead
A fascinating hypothesis on what caused the "Dark Ages" The "Catasatrophe!" that is the focus of this first volume in the "Secrets of the Dead" series is a cataclysmic event that some scientists believed occurred around 535 A.D. Apparently, the early Dark Ages were called that for a reason: a natural disaster literally reduced the amount of sunshine. The starting point for this scientific inquiry are the record of tree rings from the period that show abnormally small growth rates for several years during that time span. Focusing primarily on the work of science writer David Keys, this documentary eliminates extraterrestrial sources (asteroids, comets, etc.) for this natural disaster and searches for a volcanic explosion as the triggering device. However, that becomes only the first half of this endeavor as the case is then made for the significant effects this catastrophe had for human civilization. Viewers will be fascinated to learn that the Mongol invasion of Europe, the rise of the bubonic plague, the fall of the great Mexican city of Teotihuacan, the victory of the Anglo-Saxons over the Celts, and even the rise of Islam can be linked to the massive volcanic explosion.
The strength of "Catastrophe!", which is narrated by actor Roy Scheider, is the chain of scientific reasoning it lays out for the audience, both in determining what happened and in laying out the case for the specific results this particular volcanic explosion caused in human history. However, at two hours in length it is a bit overlong and I think the documentary could have benefitted from some better editing to help pick up the pace (I would think PBS would not have a big problem with the 90 minute format, but maybe that was problematic in 2000 with regards to this series). Still, this videotape should prove most instructive in the classroom since it provides a detailed case study of how scientists and historians arrive at their conclusions. Whatever the specific case study at hand, that is a lesson well worth the learning.
Well-organized evidence for a natural disaster
The basic premise of the tape is a sound one, namely that at some point in human history a natural event of stupendous proportions took place which dramatically altered the course of events. At question is whether a volcanic explosion about 535 AD in the south pacific released enough dust into the atmosphere to lower global temperatures and trigger everything from the dramatic fall of civilizations to the outbreak of bubonic plague. That is the fundamental premise of science writer David Keys that is explored in this tape.
The evidence put forward in favor of a volcanic explosion triggering a climactic change at that time is strong and convincing. Tree rings show a dramatic slowing of growth and Arctic and Antarctic ice cores show elevated levels of sulfuric acid, which indicates volcanic activity. Written evidence from the time describes events consistent with a massive volcanic eruption. While the evidence in favor of the belief that the explosion occurred at Krakatoa is only circumstantial, it is consistent with all other evidence, so it is the most likely suspect.
While we all know the consequences on human history of such an explosion would be great, the evidence in favor of the precise results is much less convincing. Keys argues that the fall of Britain to the Anglo-Saxon invaders, the outbreak of the bubonic plague, changing patterns of dominance in Asia which forced migrations to Europe, the fall of the powerful Mexican city of Teotihuacan and the rise of Islam can all be attributed to the explosion. While possible, this is all a bit too much. Civilizations rise and fall with great regularity throughout history and it is a risky proposition to attribute a movement either direction to a single natural event in a remote area, no matter how powerful it was. Nevertheless, the evidence presented is food for thought.
The tape concludes with a brief description of the likelihood of similar catastrophes in the future. It is the consensus of the experts that it is not a question of if but when. According to the geological record, extremely powerful events occur regularly, and the recent explosion of Mount St. Helens shows us a glimpse of the potential power of volcanic eruptions.
While I was not convinced by all Keys' arguments about the catastrophe, he never strays far from the hard evidence and I am convinced that his thesis is possible. The tape is very interesting and shows us that human history is often shaped by humans bowing to the will of nature rather than nature bowing to the will of humans.
An awsome inquiry into the origins of modern world politics.
I have to admit it - The book this is based on will probably turn off anyone who isn't passionately interested in history (I am, and found the book just as fascinating). This won't. I was hooked five minutes into it when I first saw it broadcast, and have forced most of my friends to watch it. I haven't had a complaint yet. This tape covers all of the important points of the book (of course not in as much detail) without dragging the viewer through the dry facts of the book that some would find is just too much information.