Collapse of Late Bronze Age Civilizations

Overview

This lecture explored the collapse of Late Bronze Age civilizations around 1177 BC, examining causes such as climate change, invasions, earthquakes, and systemic vulnerabilities in an interconnected, globalized ancient world.

The Late Bronze Age Powers

• Major civilizations included Minoans, Mycenaeans, Hittites, Egyptians, Mitanni, Assyrians, Babylonians, Cypriots, and Canaanites.
• This era (1700–1200 BC) was notable for international connections, diplomacy, and trade.
• Famous figures include Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Akhenaten, King Tut, Ramses II & III.
• Events from the period include the Battle of Kadesh, the (possibly historical) Trojan War, and the Exodus.

Collapse of Civilization (~1200–1177 BC)

• Around 1177 BC, nearly all major eastern Mediterranean civilizations collapsed, similar in scale to the later fall of Rome.
• A resulting dark age lasted 150–300 years, with a loss of literacy, large-scale construction, and centralized authority.

Causes of Collapse: Old and New Explanations

• The "Sea Peoples" were historically blamed for the collapse, invading Egypt in 1207 and 1177 BC.
• Multiple ethnic groups (e.g., Peleset/Philistines, Shardana/Sardinia, Shekelesh/Sicily) may have participated in these migrations.
• Recent thinking argues that the Sea Peoples were likely migrants or refugees, not just invaders, and only one part of a larger crisis.

Interconnected Societies and Trade

• The region was highly interdependent, especially reliant on tin (from Afghanistan) and copper (from Cyprus) for bronze production.
• Long-distance trade routes carried raw materials and finished goods; any disruption threatened the whole system.
• Archaeological finds (letters, shipwrecks, luxury items) confirm this network.

The "Perfect Storm" Theory: Multiple Stressors

• New evidence supports a prolonged, region-wide drought from around 1200–900 BC, confirmed by pollen data and climate studies.
• Famine, as documented in contemporary letters, affected many cities (e.g., Ugarit, Emar, Hatti).
• Invaders (Sea Peoples and others) contributed to destruction, though identifying the attackers is sometimes unclear.
• Internal rebellions and social unrest also caused destruction (e.g., Hazor).
• Earthquakes ("earthquake storms") hit seismic zones, destroying many cities.
• The collapse was likely due to a synergy of drought, famine, invasion, rebellion, earthquakes, and trade disruption.

Aftermath and Legacy

• The collapse resulted in the disappearance or weakening of major civilizations; only Egypt survived, and even it declined.
• Writing and complex administration were lost in most areas for centuries.
• New groups (e.g., Israelites, Phoenicians) rose in the resulting power vacuum.
• The Phoenicians disseminated the alphabet, influencing later Greek and Latin scripts.
• The collapse set the stage for later innovations such as ironworking and democracy.

Modern Parallels and Lessons

• The lecture drew comparisons between ancient and modern crises: climate change, economic interdependence, migration, and war.
• Systems collapse may be triggered by multiple interlinked stressors.
• History may repeat with different actors; understanding the past can inform responses to present challenges.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Sea Peoples — Migratory groups identified in Egyptian records as attacking the eastern Mediterranean ca. 1200–1177 BC.
• Systems Collapse — A rapid disintegration of interconnected societies due to cascading failures across political, economic, and social systems.
• Dark Age — Period with loss of literacy, centralized government, and reduced cultural output following a major collapse.
• Globalization (in antiquity) — Interconnectedness through trade, diplomacy, and marriage between ancient civilizations.
• Earthquake Storm — Sequence of strong earthquakes occurring along a fault over a short period, contributing to widespread destruction.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review notes and key terms.
• Consider implications of systemic collapse for current global society.
• Keep an eye out for upcoming lectures or readings on related topics such as the Exodus, rise of the Israelites, and introduction of the alphabet.