Thera's Volcanic Dawn explores the cataclysmic Minoan eruption and its far-reaching consequences in the Bronze Age Mediterranean. This book meticulously examines the geological event, reconstructing its magnitude and immediate environmental fallout, while also investigating the eruption's widespread impact on Minoan civilization and other Bronze Age societies. One intriguing insight is how the eruption profoundly altered trade routes and political landscapes across the Aegean.
The book adopts an interdisciplinary approach, blending Earth Sciences, History, and Archaeology to offer a comprehensive understanding. Starting with the geological context of the Aegean and pre-eruption Minoan society, it then reconstructs the eruption using geological data and analyzes its effects on sites like Akrotiri. Further chapters delve into the eruption's impact on Crete and other regions, concluding with a discussion of its long-term consequences and the complex interplay between natural disasters and societal change.
