Beyond Fire and Ice: What is Iceland?

How has this civilization been able to survive on a frozen tundra in the middle of the north Atlantic for over 1100 years? This lecture will explore the curious history of Iceland, a small and unimportant country, that despite, or because of its geographic isolation and lack of any valuable natural resources, has been able to develop a distinct national and cultural identity. What lessons can be drawn from the historical experiences of Icelanders? Why does the nation rank so high in gender equality and on the happiness index? What has been the impact of climate change on the fragile natural environment? How does a small nation act differently from big nations? And has anything of note ever happened in this country? Why should we care?   Guest Speaker: Magnús T. Bernhardsson is the Brown Professor of History and Faculty Affiliiate in Arabic Studies, Leadership Studies and Religion, and Chair of Global Studies at Williams College. He specializes in the modern Middle East, specifically the political and cultural history of Hashemite Iraq (1921-1958). After earning his B.A. degree in theology and political science at the University of Iceland, he came to the United States and completed a master’s degree in religion from Yale Divinity School in 1992. After a year in Syria studying Arabic, he returned to Yale and finished a Ph.D. in Middle Eastern History in 1999. Prior to coming to Williams in 2003, he taught at Hofstra University for four years. He is the author of several books and edited volumes including Reclaiming a Plundered Past. Archaeology and Nation Building in Modern Iraq (Texas, 2005). He is currently researching and writing a book called History be Dammed! which is about hydro-electric dams in the Middle East and how they have impacted and destroyed historical sites.   The talk will take place on Thursday, March 6 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm in Yester House at Southern Vermont Arts Center.