Collapse, crisis and transformation of cultures and civilizations are integral parts of human history. Underlying causes to crises may be searched for in internal factors within society itself, in external factors, or in a combination of both. While negative effects may be evident--such as starvation, epidemics, social unrest, war, natural disasters, overexploitation of natural resources--causal relationships are often complex and difficult to sort out. The ability to cope with crises has varied between societies and through time, and has depended on internal social and cultural factors. Crises may in some cases have led to societal collapse but may also have resulted in regeneration and social reforms that enabled further development and growth. The rise, peak, decline, collapse and regeneration of cultural complexes and civilizations are the main topic of this volume. Societal crises are discussed and analysed from an archaeological and interdisciplinary perspective, both theoretical and empirical, regardless of their geographical or chronological context. By comparing individual studies the volume aims to identify and evaluate the ever repeating patterns and processes in the history of human culture and society.

Miroslav Barta is the Director of the Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Philosophy and Arts, Charles University, Prague. Jiri Janak is a faculty member of the Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Philosophy and Arts, Charles University, Prague.

Miroslav Barta

Jiri Janak