Bronze Age Collapse: What Happened
Around 1200 BC, the connected world of the eastern Mediterranean fell apart. Within a few decades, the Mycenaean palaces of Greece, the Hittite Empire of Anatolia, the trading city of Ugarit in Syria and many other centers were destroyed or abandoned. Egypt survived but was badly weakened. Trade in copper and tin, the metals needed to make bronze, broke down, and with it the wealth that supported palaces, armies and scribes. Historians still debate the causes, and most now believe it was a combination of pressures rather than one disaster. These likely included long droughts and famine, a series of earthquakes, raids by groups known as the Sea Peoples, internal revolts, migrations and the collapse of fragile trade networks. In Greece, the results were dramatic. Writing disappeared, populations fell sharply, and many settlements were deserted. The Bronze Age Collapse is often called the first great systems collapse in history. It ended the age of Mycenaean palaces and opened the Greek Dark Ages, from which classical Greek civilization would slowly emerge centuries later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Bronze Age Collapse?
The Bronze Age Collapse was the sudden breakdown of civilizations across the eastern Mediterranean around 1200 BC. The Mycenaean palaces, the Hittite Empire and many trading cities were destroyed or abandoned within a few decades.
What caused the Bronze Age Collapse?
Most historians believe it was caused by a combination of factors, including drought and famine, earthquakes, raids by the Sea Peoples, internal revolts, migrations and the breakdown of fragile trade networks.
How did the Bronze Age Collapse affect Greece?
In Greece, the Mycenaean palaces were destroyed, writing disappeared, trade collapsed and the population fell sharply. Greece entered a long period of decline known as the Greek Dark Ages.
Which civilizations survived the Bronze Age Collapse?
Egypt survived, although it was badly weakened. Some cities in the region recovered, and Phoenician cities on the coast of Lebanon went on to flourish in the following centuries.
When did Greece recover from the Bronze Age Collapse?
Greece recovered slowly over several centuries. By around 800 BC, the population was growing again, trade revived, the alphabet was adopted and the first city-states emerged.
