We often tell the story of civilization as one of triumph — the rise of empires, the marvels of engineering, the brilliance of rulers, and the legacy of golden ages. Yet beneath the grandeur lies another narrative, carved into ruins and scattered across forgotten landscapes: a story of collapse. From Egypt’s pyramid builders to the engineers of the Indus Valley, from Mesopotamian kings to the seafaring Minoans and the dynasties of ancient China, history is marked not only by achievement but by unraveling.
Time and again, civilizations rose with dazzling promise, only to falter under the weight of environmental shifts, internal strife, and mounting pressures. Today, archaeology and climate science reveal just how entwined human decisions and natural forces have always been — and how familiar these ancient tipping points feel. In an era defined by climate crisis, polarization, and systemic strain, the echoes of past collapses grow louder. This issue invites you to confront a provocative question: are we so different from those who came before us? The past may be a ruin, but it is also a mirror. The real challenge lies in whether we choose to look — and learn.