Why ISIS wants to erase Palmyra's history

Sturt Manning, professor of Classics, writes in this piece for CNN about efforts to erase the rich history of Palmyra.

"The Palmyra oasis is a strategic location, unfortunately almost awaiting attention and thus disaster," Manning writes. "Usually ISIS justifies destruction by claiming representative art to be idolatrous and pre-Islamic religious objects or structures sacrilegious. It seeks to destroy diversity and enforce narrow uniformity. Evidence of a tolerant, diverse past is anathema. Prosaically, looted antiquities provide key funds to ISIS."