Introduction

In our era of heightened division and polarization, a powerful concern that unites us is the perception that modern civilization may be on a trajectory toward fragility, systemic shocks, or even collapse. From the rise of cryptocurrencies to the increasing popularity of dystopian novels and apocalyptic movies, civilizational collapse seems like the issue of our time. The conferences on historical systemic collapse convened a global collaborative network of archaeology, historians, sociologists, ecologists, physicists, mathematicians, and scholars of collapse from around the world to seek a better understanding of how and why systems, populations, and ultimately societies collapse. With the goal of sharing insights, theories, and methodologies across academic fields, scholars sought to move beyond disciplinary walls and silos that traditionally separate efforts that could benefit from cross-pollination.