Eric H. Cline

Eric H. Cline
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Name	Eric H. Cline
Birth date	1 September 1960
Nationality	American
Fields	Archaeology, Ancient Near Eastern studies, Classics
Workplaces	The George Washington University
Alma mater	Dartmouth College, University of Pennsylvania
Known for	Research on the Late Bronze Age collapse, excavations at Tel Megiddo, Tel Kabri
Notable works	1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed
Awards	Oriental Institute's James Henry Breasted Prize

Eric H. Cline is an American archaeologist, historian, and professor of Classics and Anthropology at The George Washington University. A leading scholar in Mediterranean archaeology and Aegean prehistory, his interdisciplinary work on Near Eastern civilizations, including Ancient Babylon, provides critical insights into the interconnectedness and fragility of early complex societies. His research is particularly significant for understanding the broader geopolitical and economic networks in which Babylonia operated during the Late Bronze Age.

Biography and Academic Career

Eric H. Cline earned his B.A. in Classical Archaeology from Dartmouth College and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Ancient History from the University of Pennsylvania. He has held teaching and research positions at several institutions, including Xavier University and The George Washington University, where he is a full professor and former chair of the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. Cline is also a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and has held prestigious research fellowships, such as at the W. F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem. His academic career is distinguished by a commitment to cross-disciplinary study, blending textual analysis from cuneiform sources with archaeological science.

Research on the Late Bronze Age Collapse

Cline is internationally renowned for his synthesis of the causes behind the Late Bronze Age collapse, a period of widespread societal disintegration around 1177 BCE that affected empires from Mycenaean Greece to the Hittite Empire and New Kingdom of Egypt. His seminal book, 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed, argues for a "perfect storm" of interconnected factors—including climate change, earthquakes, famine, internal rebellion, and the disruptive movements of the Sea Peoples—rather than a single cause. This research framework is crucial for contextualizing the decline of Kassite Babylonia, which, while not collapsing as catastrophically as some peers, experienced significant political fragmentation and economic disruption tied to these broader system collapse networks.

Excavations at Megiddo and Tel Kabri

Cline has served as co-director and senior archaeologist on major excavation projects in the Levant, primarily at Tel Megiddo (the site of ancient Armageddon) and Tel Kabri in modern-day Israel. At Tel Megiddo, a key city-state controlling vital trade routes, his work has illuminated Late Bronze Age urban life and its connections to Egyptian and Assyrian hegemony. His excavations at Tel Kabri, a Canaanite palace complex with Minoan-style frescoes, provide direct evidence of Aegean-Levant cultural exchange. These findings underscore the extensive international trade and diplomatic systems that linked the Aegean, Anatolia, Egypt, and Mesopotamia, including Babylon.

Contributions to the Study of Ancient Babylon

While not a Babylon specialist per se, Cline's macro-historical approach has significantly advanced the study of Ancient Babylon within its international context. His work analyzes Babylonia as a node within the Amarna Period diplomatic network, evidenced by the Amarna letters which include correspondence with Kadashman-Enlil I and Burnaburiash II, Kassite kings of Babylon. He examines how events like the Late Bronze Age collapse impacted Mesopotamian economies, potentially contributing to the decline of the Kassite dynasty. Furthermore, his critical analysis of primary sources, such as cross-referencing Hittite annals with Babylonian chronicles, helps deconstruct simplistic narratives of military conquest and highlights themes of resilience and adaptation in Babylonian society.

Public Engagement and Publications

Cline is a prolific author and dedicated public intellectual who makes archaeology and ancient history accessible. Beyond his academic monographs, he has written several popular books, including The Trojan War: A Very Short Introduction and Three Stones Make a Wall: The Story of Archaeology. He frequently contributes to documentaries, appears on media outlets like NPR and the History Channel, and gives public lectures. His engagement often emphasizes the relevance of ancient societal collapses, such as those involving Babylon and its neighbors, to contemporary issues of climate justice, economic inequality, and sustainable international systems.

Awards and Recognition

Cline's work has been recognized with numerous awards. His book 1177 B.C. won the 2014 ASCSA's Phi Beta Kappa award for science and the prestigious Oriental Institute's James Henry Breasted Prize. He has also received awards for his teaching and scholarship from Penn and The George Washington University of Pennsylvania and the Archaeological Institute of America. In 2020, he was elected to the prestigious American Academy of Archaeology.

Category:American archaeologists American historians Category:Archaeology of the Ancient Near East Category:Archaeology of the Ancient Near East