What was life like after the Bronze age collapse?
Epimetheus・15 minutes read
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.
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Summary
00:00
Ancient Empires Collapse, Chaos Ensues, Rise Follows
- In the 12th century BC, the most advanced empires were interconnected, but faced a collapse leading to famine, war, and chaos, resulting in a loss of literacy for centuries in regions like Greece.
- The ruling class, including generals, kings, priests, and nobles, faced slim survival chances due to being targeted by invaders and their own people's wrath for failing to deliver safety and prosperity.
- Farmers, the majority of the population, perished due to destroyed irrigation systems, while city dwellers, including scribes, suffered greatly with few exceptions like Egypt.
- Egypt, post-collapse, saw a decline in power, with Pharaoh Ramses the 11th facing an impoverished reign, relying on mercenaries like the Sea Peoples and Libyans to maintain control.
- Egypt split into two rival dynasties after Ramses the 11th's death, engaging in a cold war, with tombs looted by state actors and a focus on maintaining crumbling monuments.
- The Sea Peoples, Mediterranean marauders, were credited with destroying the international system of states, while mountain tribes like the Kaskas and Elamites played a significant role in the downfall of empires.
- Assyria, initially dominant, faced challenges from the Arameans, pastoral nomads who thrived post-collapse, leading to Assyrian defeats and retreats, with cities being overrun.
- The Arameans, competitive and independent, never united into a larger empire, frequently at war with themselves and others, while the Neo-Hittites transitioned into loosely allied city-states.
- Aram Damascus emerged as a stable Aramean kingdom, launching campaigns against Hebrew tribes, with both groups transitioning from nomadic roots to city dwellers.
- Post-collapse, battered city-states in the Levant experienced a golden age after 1000 BC, thriving and fighting without the interference of powerful empires.
15:53
Libyan Nomads and Merchant Survival Strategies
- After the Bronze Age collapse, the semi-nomadic Libyans infiltrated Egypt, eventually taking over the military government and the throne under Pharaoh Shoshank, marking the first time a foreign dynasty ruled all of Egypt. Their survival skills were attributed to mobility, efficiency, and small family units.
- Merchants were likely to have survived at a higher rate during the Bronze Age collapse due to their ability to travel long distances, negotiate, and adapt to various languages and customs. Anecdotal evidence, like the Assyrian king's zoo during civil unrest, showcases their resourcefulness and survival skills.
