Lecture Notes: The Collapse of the Late Bronze Age

Jul 30, 2024

Notes on Lecture: The Collapse of Late Bronze Age

Introduction

  • Speaker: Not mentioned
  • Acknowledgments for attendance on a snowy night.
  • Motivated to write the book after a conversation with Rob Tempio from Princeton.
  • Focus on the dynamics of collapse and the interconnections of civilizations.

Reasons for Writing the Book

  • Enjoyable experience despite not being originally motivated to write it.
  • Book's structure: beginning and end focus on collapse; middle section explores societies leading up to it (12th-15th centuries).
  • Discussion about creating a book trailer, resulting in a fun project with a film studio.
  • Aim to discuss the 1200 B.C. collapse, likening it to the Roman Empire's collapse.

Overview of Collapse

Multiple Societies Affected

  • Discussion focuses on the simultaneous collapse of multiple societies, not just one (e.g., Roman Empire, Maya).
  • Emphasis on networking and globalization of Late Bronze Age civilizations.

The Golden Era of Late Bronze Age (1700-1200 B.C.)

  • Major civilizations involved: Egyptians, Hittites, Canaanites, Cypriots, Mitanni, Assyrians, Babylonians.
  • Familiar historical figures: Hatshepsut, King Tut, Ramses II, and events like the Battle of Kadesh and the Trojan War.

Cause of the Collapse: Uncertainty

  • Speaker does not claim to definitively identify the cause of the collapse.
  • Presents both known and speculative theories about the causes.

Key Theories on Collapse Causes

  1. Sea Peoples
    • Mentioned as a potential cause, but regarded as part of a larger picture rather than the sole instigator.
    • Ramses III's accounts of invasions and descriptions from Medinet Habu provide historical context.
  2. Environmental Factors
    • Evidence of drought in 13th-12th century B.C. dating back to Rhys Carpenter's hypotheses.
    • Findings from pollen analysis at various historical sites confirm prolonged drought.
  3. Famine and Social Upheaval
    • References to famine due to environmental stress (indicated by texts from Ugarit).
    • Possible internal rebellions among lower classes exacerbated by societal pressures.
  4. Earthquakes
    • Potential for widespread seismic activity leading to structural collapses in cities during the same period.
  5. Disruptions in Trade
    • Cut trade routes greatly affected bronze production, crucial for maintaining the economy.
    • Importance of tin and copper imports highlighted.

Interconnectedness of Civilizations

  • How the complex interactions and dependencies between societies contributed to the whole system's collapse.
  • Speaker compares the interconnectedness of these ancient societies to modern globalization.

Summary Points

  • Various civilizations thrived in the Late Bronze Age are unmistakable.
  • While many civilizations succumbed around 1177 B.C., there was no singular cause.
  • Arguments presented that the complex interactions led to a systems collapse.
  • Systematic aspects of the collapse related to external pressures and internal dynamics stressing the civilizations.

Modern Parallels

  • Explores parallels between ancient societal conditions and current global situations (climate change, economic downturns).
  • In conclusion, though the collapse signifies a dark age, it also led to new developments in civilization (e.g., alphabet, monotheism).