1177 B.C.: When Civilization Collapsed | Eric Cline

Long Now Foundation・2 minutes read

The collapse of interconnected civilizations in the Late Bronze Age around 1200 BC led to various societal declines and remains a mystery, with suggested factors including drought, famine, invaders like the Sea Peoples, earthquakes, and internal rebellions. The collapse created a Dark Age lasting about 300 years, resulting in the loss of writing, monumental architecture, and other hallmarks of civilization, similar in impact to the fall of the Roman Empire, prompting questions about future archaeology and interpretations of modern society.

Insights

  • Long Now Foundation emphasizes long-term thinking with films showcasing civilization's fragility and robustness due to interconnectedness.
  • Late Bronze Age's collapse around 1200 BC remains a mystery, attributed to factors like drought, famine, invaders, and earthquakes, impacting interconnected civilizations.
  • Transition from Bronze to Iron Age occurred due to trade route disruptions, marking the end of the Late Bronze Age with societal collapses and a subsequent Dark Age.

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Recent questions

  • What is the significance of the Late Bronze Age?

    The Late Bronze Age, spanning from 1700 to 1200 BC, was a period characterized by globalized interaction among various ancient civilizations. During this time, trade routes facilitated the exchange of raw materials like copper and tin, essential for making bronze tools and weapons. Diplomatic missions and trade embassies were common, showcasing the interconnectedness of societies. The collapse of civilizations around 1200 BC marked the end of this era, leading to a Dark Age lasting about 300 years. The Late Bronze Age is crucial in understanding the complexities of ancient civilizations and the factors that contributed to their decline.

  • What caused the collapse of civilizations in the Late Bronze Age?

    The collapse of civilizations in the Late Bronze Age remains a mystery, with various factors potentially contributing to it. While drought, famine, and invaders like the Sea Peoples are often blamed, internal rebellions and earthquakes are also considered as causes. Scientific studies have shown evidence of a 300-year drought during this period, and archaeological evidence supports the presence of seismic activity. The disruption of international trade routes due to various factors could have also played a role in the collapse. The combination of these elements led to the decline of interconnected societies, leaving Egypt as the only standing civilization post-collapse.

  • How did trade routes impact ancient civilizations?

    Trade routes played a significant role in the prosperity and interconnectedness of ancient civilizations during the Late Bronze Age. These routes facilitated the exchange of raw materials like copper and tin, essential for making bronze tools and weapons. Finished goods, such as weapons and sandals, were also traded among civilizations, showcasing a globalized network of interactions. Diplomatic missions and trade embassies further solidified these connections, with examples like Hatshepsut's mission to Punt. The trade routes not only contributed to economic growth but also fostered cultural exchanges and diplomatic relations among ancient societies.

  • What were the consequences of the collapse of civilizations in the Late Bronze Age?

    The collapse of civilizations in the Late Bronze Age had far-reaching consequences, leading to a Dark Age lasting about 300 years. This period saw the loss of monumental architecture, writing systems, and other hallmarks of civilization. Cities were destroyed, trade routes disrupted, and populations shifted due to various factors like droughts, famine, and chaos. The collapse left Egypt as the only standing civilization, facing internal turmoil and assassination plots. The vulnerability of societies post-collapse is evident in the Philistine-looking pottery at Gabala, suggesting a long peace before societal breakdown. The consequences of the collapse highlight the fragility and interconnectedness of ancient civilizations.

  • How did the transition from bronze to iron occur?

    The transition from bronze to iron occurred during the Late Bronze Age due to disruptions in trade routes and the necessity for new materials. While iron technology was superior to bronze, it was challenging to smelt iron, leading to a gradual shift. The collapse of civilizations around 1200 BC marked the end of the Late Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age. Iron technology eventually replaced bronze as the primary material for tools and weapons, reflecting the changing dynamics of ancient societies. The transition from bronze to iron was a significant development that reshaped technological advancements and trade networks during this period.

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Summary

00:00

Long Now Foundation: 10,000 Years Past & Future

  • Long Now talks typically start with a short film showcasing long-term thinking.
  • The film shown tonight was created by members present at the event.
  • The film highlights the fragility and robustness of civilizations due to interconnectedness.
  • The Long Now Foundation focuses on the next 10,000 years and the past 10,000 years.
  • Stuart Brand discusses the Bronze Age, starting 5,000 years ago, characterized by bronze tools and weapons.
  • The Late Bronze Age, 1700-1200 BC, is a period of globalized interaction among various ancient civilizations.
  • Trade routes facilitated the exchange of raw materials like copper and tin, essential for making bronze.
  • Finished goods, like weapons and sandals, were also traded among civilizations.
  • Diplomatic missions and trade embassies were common, such as Hatshepsut's mission to Punt.
  • The discovery of statue base lists in Egypt reveals foreign powers' names, including those from the Aegean region.

18:10

Trade, Collapse, and Sea Peoples in Bronze Age

  • The text discusses a list of 14 names, including places in Egypt and Greece, that had never been recorded before in Egypt.
  • A British scholar, Ken Kitchen, suggested that the list resembles Mycenae and Canosa, indicating a possible itinerary from Egypt to Greece and back.
  • Objects with the name of Amenhotep the Third were found in various sites mentioned on the statue base, such as Crete and Canosa.
  • The text mentions the Hulaburun shipwreck off the coast of Turkey in 1300 BC, carrying over 300 copper ingots and tin, along with other items like glass, resin, and ivory.
  • The shipwreck's cargo suggests a significant trade network in the Late Bronze Age, with materials coming from Cyprus, Mycenaean Greece, and other regions.
  • A text from Ugarit in Syria, dating to about 1260 BC, mentions a merchant named Sinar who imported olive oil, beer, and grain, exempt from taxes.
  • The collapse of interconnected civilizations in the Late Bronze Age, around 1200 BC, led to the decline of various societies, leaving Egypt as the only standing civilization.
  • The text explores the mystery of the collapse of these civilizations, drawing parallels between the interconnected societies of that time and modern globalization.
  • The Sea Peoples, mentioned in Egyptian texts, invaded various regions like Turkey, Cyprus, and Canaan, leading to battles with Ramses III.
  • Ramses III describes defeating groups like the Denyen, Shardana, and Philistines, but the origins and fate of the Sea Peoples remain a mystery, with linguistic and archaeological speculations.

33:43

Factors in Collapse: Drought, Invaders, Earthquakes

  • Philistine stirrup jar shows degenerate Mycenaean pottery, possibly made by Mycenaeans using local clay from various regions.
  • Sea Peoples depicted in Egyptian records are not just raiders but migrants with possessions, ox carts, wives, and children.
  • The traditional explanation of drought leading to famine and Sea Peoples' movement is deemed too simplistic.
  • Various factors like drought, famine, invaders, and earthquakes are suggested to have contributed to the collapse of civilizations.
  • Scientific studies in Syria, Cyprus, and Israel show evidence of a 300-year drought from around 1200 to 900 BC.
  • Pollen studies and archaeological evidence support the presence of a drought during the Late Bronze Age.
  • Written records from Jugur and the Hittite kingdom confirm famine during the collapse of civilizations.
  • Invaders like the Sea Peoples are blamed for destruction, but internal rebellions are also considered as causes.
  • Archaeological evidence from destroyed sites like Canaanite Hatzor suggests internal rebellions or earthquakes as potential causes.
  • Active seismic zones and historical earthquake sequences in the region indicate earthquakes as a contributing factor to the collapse of civilizations.

49:36

Collapse of Bronze Age Civilization: A Mystery

  • A young lady was killed in an earthquake, with a rock embedded in her skull.
  • Another woman and child were killed by a collapsing building during the same time period.
  • Walls in Troy and Mycenae show signs of earthquake damage.
  • Destruction of sites may not be due to who, but what caused it.
  • Cutting of international trade routes could have contributed to the collapse.
  • Transition from bronze to iron occurred due to trade route disruptions.
  • Multiple civilizations interacted through trade routes between the 15th and 13th centuries.
  • Many cities were destroyed around 1177, marking the end of the Late Bronze Age.
  • The cause of the collapse remains a mystery, with various factors like earthquakes, famine, and drought possibly contributing.
  • The collapse led to a Dark Age lasting about 300 years, with loss of writing, monumental architecture, and other hallmarks of civilization.

01:05:27

Vulnerability in ancient societies and modern parallels.

  • The Philistine-looking pottery at Gabala suggests vulnerability due to a long peace before societal breakdown.
  • The 14th century marked a period of prosperity, potentially leading to a false sense of security.
  • Akkadian was the lingua franca during the Bronze Age, facilitating trade and diplomatic correspondence.
  • Iron technology, while superior, only replaced bronze when necessary due to the difficulty of smelting iron.
  • Population shifts and movements occurred during collapses, possibly due to droughts or chaos.
  • Egypt survived the Sea Peoples but faced internal turmoil, including an assassination plot against Ramses III.
  • Archaeologists seek missing archives, like the one at Megiddo, to uncover responses to ancient letters.
  • The discovery of a large wine cellar at a Canaanite palace raises questions about potential writings.
  • The collapse of the Late Bronze Age was comparable to the fall of the Roman Empire in terms of lost knowledge and advancements.
  • The potential collapse of modern civilization raises questions about future archaeology and the interpretation of our current society.

01:20:39

Deciphering Mycenaean Language and Future Archaeology

  • Mycenaeans' language deciphered in 1952 as an early version of Greek.
  • Trauma in the Mediterranean after the Bronze Age collapse was significant.
  • Monumental civilizations like Rome and Egypt saw people camping out in ruins post-collapse.
  • Squatters appeared in the aftermath, like in Agamemnon's Mycenae.
  • Future archaeology focus includes the archaeology of the future and the challenges it poses.
  • Advances in archaeology include satellite imagery, drones, and lidar technology.
  • The future of archaeology involves leaving parts of sites for future generations with better tools and techniques.
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