What Caused the Bronze Age Collapse?
More than 3,200 years ago, several ancient civilizations thrived. Then it all suddenly came to an end.
During the Bronze Age, the Mediterranean and Near East were home to several ancient civilizations. The kingdoms of the Egyptians, Hittites, Mycenaeans, Babylonians, Minoans, and others built great cities and palaces. These kingdoms created an interconnected network that made the region a cradle of civilization.
Then something happened.
After a series of calamities, these great civilizations went into a sharp decline. By 1177 BCE, the region was plunged into a Dark Age in which some of the societies never recovered.
Author Eric Cline has proposed his theory on what caused the collapse in his book 1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed. According to him, not one single event caused the Bronze Age collapse, but several events.
An Ancient Global Society
Much like today, the late Bronze Age civilizations depended on each other for raw materials and luxury goods. Precious copper and tin were used to create bronze. Ceramics, gold, and ivory were also prized goods. Archeologists can trace the spread of different civilizations and their influence by evidence of their artwork in…
