The Bronze Age collapse in the 12th century BC led to famine, war, and chaos, resulting in a loss of literacy for centuries in some regions like Greece, with rulers facing slim survival chances due to invasion and wrath from their own people. Egypt, post-collapse, split into rival dynasties, facing an impoverished reign under Pharaoh Ramses the 11th and relying on mercenaries to maintain control, while city-states in the Levant thrived without interference from powerful empires, and the Libyans eventually took over Egypt, showcasing survival skills attributed to mobility and small family units.
Insights
The collapse in the 12th century BC led to a loss of literacy for centuries in regions like Greece, impacting the ruling class and majority farmers, while Egypt saw a decline in power post-collapse, relying on mercenaries and splitting into rival dynasties.
The Sea Peoples, mountain tribes like the Kaskas and Elamites, and Arameans played significant roles in the downfall of empires post-collapse, with city-states in the Levant experiencing a golden age after 1000 BC, free from powerful empire interference, while semi-nomadic Libyans eventually took over Egypt under Pharaoh Shoshank, marking a foreign dynasty's rule for the first time.
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Recent questions
What caused the collapse of empires in the Bronze Age?
Various factors like famine, war, and chaos led to collapse.