An international Egyptological conference took place at Kampus Hybernská, co-organized by one of the most prominent American climate archaeologists, Professor Harvey Weiss from Yale University. In an interview for the magazine Forum, he discussed the impact of climate fluctuations on past civilizations as well as the challenges of the present.
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An international Egyptological conference recently took place at Kampus Hybernská, jointly organized by the Czech Institute of Egyptology at Charles University and Yale University. Among the featured guests was Professor Harvey Weiss, a leading expert in environmental archaeology. “I’ve always been interested in how human societies were shaped by their environments and natural events,” said Weiss in an interview for the university magazine Forum, where he described how climate change has influenced the course of civilization.
Professor Weiss has long focused on environmental archaeology and anthropology. In his interdisciplinary approach to studying the Middle East, he integrates these fields with biology, geology, and climatology. According to him, this multidisciplinary perspective can help us better understand today’s climate crises. However, he sees a crucial difference between the present situation and events in ancient history: back then, changes were driven by natural cycles, whereas today, human influence plays a key role.
The conference at Kampus Hybernská offered more than just theoretical perspectives. The discussions also addressed specific historical examples of how ancient societies coped with extreme conditions, such as prolonged droughts. Weiss pointed out that similar phenomena are reemerging today — water scarcity or disruptions in food supply chains can lead to instability even in modern societies.
According to Weiss, scientific research is now facing challenges not only due to climate change, but also due to declining support for interdisciplinary collaboration, especially in the United States. He therefore calls for a stronger emphasis on integrating the humanities and natural sciences, which he believes provides a deeper understanding of today’s global issues.
The event at Kampus Hybernská served as a reminder that understanding the past can be a crucial tool for navigating the future. Today’s civilization faces challenges with clear parallels to those of antiquity. As Weiss warns, if we fail to respond effectively to climate stressors, we may face collapses similar to those that once struck Mesopotamia or Egypt.
The full interview with Professor Weiss is available on the Forum magazine website.
