Customer Reviews

Secrets of the Dead - Catastrophe (vol. 1) [VHS]

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This video is part of the "Secrets of the Dead" series, which originally aired in Britain and more recently appeared on PBS. This particular episode is based on the work of David Keys, whose theories are set out in more detail in his 1999 book "Catastrophe."

In a nutshell, Keys and others believe that a disaster, possibly an asteroid strike or a huge volcanic eruption, happened sometime around 535 AD. The aftermath was worldwide drought, flood, famine, plague and the collapse of ancient civilizations around the world.

The first half of the video reviews the evidence for what happened: tree ring studies, ice core samples, evidence of volcanic eruptions, and historical records all point to a major climate-changing event in the year 535. The second half explores the effect that this event had on the world, including the decline of the Roman (Byzantine) Empire and the rise of Islam. The upshot is that this little-known catastrophe may have had an enormous effect on the course of history and that, more chillingly, there is absolutely nothing to prevent a similar disaster from happening again.

The episode itself features a lot of dark, moody shots of ancient buildings and mist-shrouded forests, all of which are in keeping with the "Secrets of the Dead" motif. In a nod to the "X-Files," changes in location are announced in a typed script that scrolls from the left side of the screen. Location shots feature actors dressed in period costumes (presumably for ambience), and interviews with Keys and others are interspersed throughout. The overall effect is a bit creepy, and at times it's a bit much for an event that is plainly not supernatural.

For those who find this sort of thing as fascinating as I do, here are a couple of additional recommendations:

First, Key's book "Catastrophe" is well worth reading and has been extensively reviewed elsewhere on Amazon.

Second, Channel 4 Books has published "Secrets of the Dead" and "More Secrets of the Dead," both by crime writer Hugh Miller. These books cover ten of the episodes in the series (not including "Catastophe," which will presumably be covered in a third book), and they present information that you will not find in the videos. (...)

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.

I came into the middle of these series when PBS aired them originally, and after watching all of them, realize exactly what I missed the first time! The stories spun here are fascinating, and a little bit creepy (it was a bit hard to turn off the lights after watching and go down the hallway in the dark) The only thing I didn't quite like is that three of the four episodes dealt with ancient people, and the fourth dealth with more modern. I would have preferred to see one series on the ancients and perhaps a second on more modern times. Still, it remains something I would highly recommend.

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.

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.

This video comprises 2 segments. The first investigates 3 possible scenarios for world-wide decline/problems starting in the 6th century. This portion is very scientifically oriented. The second argues that it was a volcano and then proceeds to give arguments/evidence to support that theory with the related consequences that follow. This portion connects the history to the science. For use as a history class resource, the second portion works best and easily fits within a 55 minute class time with time for an introduction and wrap-up. It covers topics including the Byzantine empire, Mongols, Maya, Britain, and rise of Islam.