Secrets of the Dead Season 17 Episode 6

Ep 6. Egypt's Darkest Hour

  • April 3, 2019
  • 7.3  (37)

In the sixth episode of season 17 of Secrets of the Dead, titled "Egypt's Darkest Hour," viewers are taken on a journey through the events that led to the downfall of the Ancient Egyptian civilization during the Bronze Age. This hour-long documentary features a team of archaeologists and historians who present research and discoveries that have shed new light on this mysterious chapter of human history.

The episode begins with an introduction to the prosperous and powerful society that Egypt had become during the Bronze Age. With the Nile River providing a constant source of water and fertile land, the people of Egypt had developed a complex system of agriculture and trade that allowed them to flourish. Burial sites, depicted on grand monuments, underscored their beliefs of an afterlife and serve as testament to their advanced levels of construction and artistry.

Through the use of computer-generated imagery and expert analyses, "Egypt's Darkest Hour" presents a vivid picture of the society at its zenith. But this prosperity and grandeur would not last. In the mid-second millennium BC, a series of calamitous events shook the kingdom.

Around the same time, a devastating drought spread throughout the region, leading to crop failures and a decline in agriculture production. As a result, poor harvests caused food shortages, which in turn caused people to flee their homes and seek refuge elsewhere. Suffering through this catastrophic chain of events, the society's leaders struggled to maintain stability and kept resources for themselves. This exacerbated the issue, resulting in more and more people abandoning their homes and moving elsewhere in search of food and supplies.

The damage wasn't just physical, but social and cultural as well. The people began to lose faith in their commanders as the leaders began to fail time and time again, unable to provide for the people they were charged with caring for. In turn, the multi-generational belief system of an afterlife and their rich artistry began to dwindle. Their looted, yet celebrated burial tombs began to reveal patterns of social upheaval; the standards of beauty became less ambitious and creative, the production moved from private to commercial, the decoration became less extravagant and focused more on economy of means.

Things only got worse as invasions by the "Sea Peoples" occurred, devastating small towns throughout the Mediterranean. The Sea Peoples were marauding bands from the Aegean, possibly from different groups with different motivations. Armed with iron weapons and ships, they raided harbor towns and other places vulnerable to attack along the Nile delta. The Kingdom of Egypt was reeling as the Sea Peoples, originally believed to be refugees, became more aggressive, eventually becoming conquerors in their own right.

The episode concludes by highlighting new archaeological discoveries that will help unravel the mystery behind this long-forgotten era. Viewers learn about the significant historical discoveries that recently revealed how the fall of Egypt was tied to a series of natural and human-made disasters that caused widespread destruction and death. The camera takes viewers to the remote locations where these discoveries were made and the painstaking work of the researchers. The revelations uncovered the magnitude of the forces that brought down one of the most affluent and influential kingdoms in human history.

Overall, "Egypt's Darkest Hour" presents a compelling and informative account of an incredibly turbulent period in Egyptian history. With expert analysis and cutting-edge science and technology, viewers are given a glimpse into the many factors that led to the rise - and fall - of one of the greatest and most captivating civilizations in human history. Secrets of the Dead continues to bring unparalleled narratives to viewers with this illuminating episode.

Description
Watch Secrets of the Dead - Egypt's Darkest Hour (s17 e6) Online - Watch online anytime: Buy, Rent
Secrets of the Dead, Season 17 Episode 6, is available to watch and stream on PBS. You can also buy, rent Secrets of the Dead on demand at Apple TV online.
  • First Aired
    April 3, 2019
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    7.3  (37)