The Late Bronze Age Collapse - Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More

Summary

Everything Everywhere Daily: The Late Bronze Age Collapse
Host: Gary Arndt | Release Date: December 20, 2024

Introduction to the Late Bronze Age Collapse

In this compelling episode of Everything Everywhere Daily, host Gary Arndt delves into one of history's most enigmatic and transformative periods: the Late Bronze Age Collapse. Approximately 3,200 years ago, a series of catastrophic events led to the rapid downfall of several major civilizations around the Mediterranean, ushering in a dark age that reshaped the ancient world. Despite its profound impact, this era remains shrouded in mystery, making it a fascinating topic for intellectually curious listeners.

Gary Arndt [00:00]: "Multiple major civilizations during the Bronze Age collapsed within a generation, international trade ground to a halt, and almost every major city around the Mediterranean was destroyed."

Setting the Stage: The World Before the Collapse

Around 1200 BCE, the eastern Mediterranean was a hub of thriving empires and bustling trade networks. Key players included:

Mycenaean Civilization (Modern-day Greece): Renowned for its military might, monumental architecture, and the development of the Linear B script, which influenced later Greek culture and mythology.
Hittite Empire (Eastern Turkey and Northern Syria): Celebrated for its advanced legal systems, chariot warfare, and extensive trade networks, the Hittites were major rivals to Egypt and other Near Eastern powers.
New Kingdom Egypt: The era of illustrious pharaohs like Akhenaten, Ramses II, and Hatshepsut. Monumental structures such as Karnak and Abu Simbel epitomized Egypt's grandeur.
Babylonian and Assyrian Empires (Mesopotamia): While not the primary focus, these empires were significant regional powers that felt the ripple effects of the collapse.

Trade during this period was vibrant, as evidenced by archaeological finds like the Uluberan shipwreck discovered off southern Turkey. This vessel, dating back to the Late Bronze Age, contained a treasure trove of goods ranging from precious metals and jewelry to exotic items like ostrich eggshells and amber beads, underscoring the region's interconnectedness.

Gary Arndt [04:15]: "The Uluberan shipwreck showed that there was an enormous amount of trade in the region during this period."

The Catalyst: Sudden and Pervasive Collapse

Within a remarkably short time frame, these established civilizations began to crumble. Key indicators of this collapse included:

Destruction of Major Cities: Iconic centers like Mycenae, Knossos, Hattusa, and Ugarit were utterly destroyed, with evidence suggesting widespread devastation.
Disruption of Trade Networks: The collapse halted the flow of essential resources such as tin and copper, critical for bronze production, leading to technological stagnation.
Abandonment of Writing Systems: Societal structures deteriorated to the point where administrative and cultural record-keeping ceased, erasing historical continuity.
Massive Population Declines: Although exact numbers remain speculative, estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands to several million people may have perished or been displaced.

Gary Arndt [12:45]: "Within the span of a single human lifetime, everything fell apart."

Theories Behind the Collapse

Gary explores several theories that scholars have proposed to explain this multifaceted collapse, acknowledging that a combination of factors likely played a role.

1. Invasions by the Sea Peoples

One of the most widely accepted theories attributes the collapse to invasions by the mysterious Sea Peoples. These groups are believed to have launched systematic naval attacks on major civilizations, reminiscent of Viking raids.

Identity and Origin: The Sea Peoples were likely a confederation of different tribes from various parts of the Mediterranean, possibly including displaced populations from regions like Mycenae.
Impact: Their amphibious assaults led to the downfall of powerful states like the Mycenaeans and Hittites, ultimately challenging even the mighty New Kingdom Egypt.

Gary Arndt [20:30]: "The Sea Peoples seem to have done something similar to the Vikings—raiders who came in by sea and ravaged the towns they attacked."

2. Severe Drought and Environmental Stress

Climate studies and archaeological evidence suggest that around 1200 BCE, the eastern Mediterranean experienced significant environmental challenges.

Drought Evidence: Tree ring data, sediment cores, and pollen analysis indicate prolonged periods of reduced rainfall.
Consequences: Crop failures and food shortages destabilized societies dependent on agriculture, undermining political and military structures.

Gary Arndt [24:10]: "A severe and prolonged drought would have led to widespread crop failures, creating food shortages and destabilizing societies."

3. Revolutionary Shifts in Warfare

Historian Robert Drewes proposes that changes in military tactics contributed significantly to the collapse.

Chariot Vulnerability: The rise of heavily armed infantry with bronze or early iron weapons made traditional chariot-based armies less effective.
Decentralization of Warfare: New infantry tactics allowed non-elite groups, potentially including the Sea Peoples, to challenge established powers.

Gary Arndt [28:45]: "A new style of warfare emerged, characterized by infantry equipped with better weapons and armor, allowing them to engage and neutralize chariot advantages."

4. Natural Disasters: Earthquakes

Some scholars point to archaeological evidence of city destructions consistent with earthquakes during this period.

Destruction Patterns: The ruins of several major cities show signs of sudden destruction, possibly caused by seismic activity.

Gary Arndt [32:20]: "One or more earthquakes during this period may have devastated major cities, weakening the empires in the region."

Consequences of the Collapse

The downfall of the Late Bronze Age civilizations had far-reaching effects:

End of Bronze Dominance: With the disruption of tin and copper supplies, bronze became scarce, hastening the transition to the Iron Age—not necessarily because iron was superior, but because bronze was no longer viable.
Dark Age: The collapse led to a centuries-long period of economic, cultural, and political regression in many regions, with centralized states giving way to smaller, less complex societies.
Loss of Literacy: Writing systems like Linear B vanished, resulting in a significant loss of knowledge and historical records.
Emergence of New Civilizations: Out of the chaos emerged new Iron Age powers, including Greece, Rome, Phoenicia, Carthage, and the Persian Empire, setting the stage for future historical developments.

Gary Arndt [38:50]: "The Bronze Age collapse was a bigger shock to the world than the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, which took much longer to play out."

Conclusion: The Legacy of the Late Bronze Age Collapse

The Late Bronze Age Collapse stands as a pivotal moment in human history, marking the end of an era and the beginning of another. Its complex causes and profound consequences continue to intrigue historians and archaeologists alike, offering insights into the resilience and fragility of civilizations.

Gary Arndt [45:00]: "The collapse reshaped the ancient world and set the stage for the emergence of new Iron Age civilizations."

Behind the Scenes

Executive Producer: Charles Daniel
Associate Producers: Benji Long and Cameron Keever

Gary extends his gratitude to the supporters on Patreon, highlighting that their contributions enable the daily production of the show and provide exclusive merchandise access. Listeners are encouraged to join the Everything Everywhere Daily community on Facebook or Discord for discussions and further engagement.

This episode offers a thorough exploration of the Late Bronze Age Collapse, blending archaeological evidence with scholarly theories to unravel the mysteries of this transformative period. Whether you're a history enthusiast or simply curious about the forces that shape civilizations, Gary Arndt provides a captivating narrative that illuminates the complexities of our past.

Transcript

Gary Arndt (0:00)

Approximately 3,200 years ago, one of the most momentous events in human history took place. Multiple major civilizations during the Bronze Age collapsed within a generation, international trade ground to a halt, and almost every major city around the Mediterranean was destroyed and much of the world entered a dark age. Despite its significance, this event is one of the least known and least understood periods of human history. Learn more about the late Bronze Age collapse and its possible causes on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. This episode is sponsored by Butcherbox. You've probably heard me talk about how ButcherBox only sells 100% grass fed grass finished beef, but what exactly is that and why does it matter? This type of beef comes from cattle that have grazed on grass for their entire lives as opposed to being finished on a diet of grains and other feed at a feedlot. Basically, cattle eat what cattle are designed to eat. 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The Late Bronze Age Collapse is a topic that I have had on my list of possible episodes all almost since I started this podcast. If you look at the broad sweep of history, the Late Bronze Age collapse is one of the most important events in the course of human civilization. And despite it being so important, it's something that few people are even aware of. And if it's such an important historical event, then why have I waited so long to do an episode on it? It primarily concerns the fact that there is a lot about it that we just don't know. If you remember back to my episode on the three age system, the Bronze Age corresponds to roughly 3300-1200 BC. This period corresponds to many of the events in the Old Testament. Just to give you an idea of how far back we're talking. Moreover, the events that I'll be discussing in this episode took place in the eastern Mediterranean. This area is an arc that primarily includes modern day Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and Egypt. So what was this world in the Late Bronze Age like? Around the year 1200 there were several well established empires and kingdoms in the eastern Mediterranean. In what is modern day Greece was the Mycenaean civilization. The Mycenaean civilization, which flourished in primarily mainland Greece, was a powerful palace centered culture known for its military prowess, monumental architecture, linear B script and influence on later Greek mythology and culture. In eastern Turkey and northern Syria was the Hittite Empire. The Hittite Empire was a powerful Bronze Age civilization renowned for its advanced legal system, use of chariots in warfare, extensive trade networks and rivalry with Egypt and other Near Eastern powers. Cyprus was sort of part of the Hittite empire, but only loosely so. It was more of a vassal state. But there were several invasions. South of the Hittite Empire, where modern day Lebanon, Israel and Palestine were, was traditionally known as canaan. However, by 1200 BC they had been under the rule of Egypt for several centuries. Egypt was in the middle of the period known as the New Kingdom. This was the period in ancient history that most people are familiar with and it included many of its most famous leaders including Akhenaten, Ramses II and Hatshepsut, as well as many of its most famous structures that were built during this time such as Karnak, Luxor and Abu Simbel. I should also at least mention the Babylonian Empire that existed in Mesopotamia, in what is modern day Iraq. As well as the remnants of the Assyrian Empire, which was sandwiched between Babylon and the Hittites. They were not directly affected by the events of this period, but they did feel the aftershocks. Much of what we know of this period and this region comes from archaeology, such as the Uluberan shipwreck, which was discovered off the coast of southern Turkey near the town of Kas in 1982. The Aluberan shipwreck showed that there was an enormous amount of trade in the region during this period. The ship was approximately 15 meters, or 50ft long. What they found were ingots of copper, tin and glass, ivory and elephant tusks, gold and silver jewelry, as well as exotic items such as ostrich eggshells, hippopotamus teeth, and amber beads. There were also bronze weapons, spices, olive oil, pomegranates, pottery, ceramics, and most probably scrolls and documents, as some seals were found. This is consistent with other evidence that shows that there was a significant amount of trade between the various cities and empires along the eastern Mediterranean. So around the year 1200, things were pretty stable around the eastern Mediterranean. Each of the major empires had been around for several centuries. There was active trade in the region, and early writing systems were being developed. There were tensions between the Hittites and the Egyptians, but nothing was really widespread. So things were about as good as they could be for the Bronze Age. And then something happened. Within the span of a single human lifetime, everything fell apart. Major powers, including the Mycenaeans, Hittites, and the new kingdom of Egypt, experienced significant decline or completely collapsed. Trade networks that had linked the region's kingdoms disintegrated, disrupting access to essential resources like tin and copper for bronze production. Writing systems were completely abandoned in many areas, signaling a loss of administrative and cultural continuity. Major cities such as Mycenae, Knossos, the Hittite capital of Hattusa, and Ugarit were completely destroyed. And those were just the largest cities. Many, many more were also devastated. The total number of deaths during this period is unknown because we have so few records, which is why we have so little information about what happened. Estimates vary widely, but it could be hundreds of thousands to several million people. And this was during an era that didn't have high populations. The fact that these civilizations all collapsed or declined at approximately the same time really isn't in question. The big debate amongst historians and archaeologists is why this period was centuries before classical Greece or Rome, which we're pretty familiar with. Writing was primitive at this time and known Only by an elite few. So when things started falling apart, nobody was writing down what was happening for posterity. For the rest of the episode, I'll be discussing theories that have been proposed to explain the collapse. And these theories are not mutually exclusive. A combination of causes could have overlapped, magnified each other and hastened the downfall. The most popular current theory is that the region succumbed to invasion from outside forces known as the Sea Peoples. Who were the Sea Peoples? We don't know exactly. There are a few records from this period that speak of invasions from outsiders. Several come from hieroglyphics in Egypt, and another is from a cuneiform tablet found in the ruins of the city of Ugarit. Many different names were given to these Sea People. Some of them are Pelset, Sherden, Shekelesh, Denyin, Lukka and Equish. Some of these names aren't associated with any known groups, but historians have tenuously associated them with various Mediterranean places. Others, such as Luka, are associated with islands off the southwest coast of Turkey. So the most popular belief is that the Sea Peoples weren't a singular group, but were rather a confederation of different peoples. They could have come from further west in the Mediterranean, from islands such as Sicily or Sardinia. Or another theory holds that they may have been displaced people from Mycenae. The attacks appear to have been systematic with the Sea Peoples, starting with the Mycenaean Empire, and then attacking the Hittite Empire and. And then finally moving south to Egypt. Their attacks seemed to be amphibious, attacking from the sea, which is where the name is derived. The easiest analogy to make to the Sea Peoples would be the Vikings. They were raiders who came in by sea and ravaged the towns that they attacked. The Sea Peoples seem to have done something similar. The Sea Peoples theory was developed in the mid-19th century by Egyptologists Emmanuel de Rogues and Gaston Maspro, who were able to decipher hieroglyphics in Egypt. While the Sea Peoples hypothesis has become the most widely accepted, it is not universally supported. And some researchers have come to question it, or at least the idea that they were the primary reason for the collapse. The Sea Peoples are not the only theory for the Bronze Age collapse. Even if you accept the Sea Peoples hypothesis, the next question would naturally be why did they attack? And why were they able to defeat these powerful empires so easily? Another theory is that a severe and prolonged drought contributed to the Bronze Age collapse. This theory is supported by archaeological evidence and climate studies. Around 1200 BC, regions across the eastern Mediterranean and Near east experience significant environmental stress. Tree ring data, sediment cores and pollen analysis indicate a period of reduced rainfall and lower agricultural productivity. This drought would have led to widespread crop failures, creating food shortages and destabilizing societies that were reliant on surplus production to sustain their populations and complex political systems. It isn't known if this weakened the societies that the Sea Peoples attacked, thus making it easier for them to conquer, or if drought and famine were what forced the Sea People to migrate to try to find a new home in the first place. Regardless, all of these civilizations were highly dependent on agriculture and any disruption would have affected the stability of the governments, military and trade. Yet another theory was developed by historian Robert Drewes in his influential work the End of the Bronze Age. He proposed that the Bronze Age collapse around the year 1200 BC was driven primarily by a revolutionary shift in warfare which disrupted the dominance of chariot based armies that had underpinned Bronze Age governments. According to Druse, the rise of heavily armed mobile infantry undermined the effectiveness of chariot warfare, which had been the backbone of military strategy for centuries. Chariots, though highly effective on flat open terrain, were expensive to maintain and required specialized infrastructure such as trained horses, skilled warriors and craftsmen to build and repair them. These vehicles were also symbols of elite control, often used by aristocratic warriors to dominate battlefields and enforce the state's authority. However, Druse argues that a new style of warfare emerged, characterized by infantry equipped with bronze or perhaps early iron weapons, large shields and better armor, allowing them to engage chariots directly and neutralize their advantage. This shift likely occurred due to advancements in weaponry, including longer swords and more effective spears, which allowed infantry to counter chariots mobility and reach. Additionally, the decentralization of warfare allowed non elite groups, possibly including the Sea Peoples, to challenge the established powers by overwhelming them with flexible infantry tactics. As chariot armies became increasingly vulnerable, the military and political systems that relied on them collapsed, contributing to the fall of major civilizations like the Mycenaeans and the Hittites. One final theory that may have contributed to the collapse is earthquakes. Archaeological evidence points to destruction in cities consistent with earthquakes. One or more earthquakes during this period may have devastated major cities, which would have weakened the empires in the region. Regardless of which combination of these theories is correct, the Mycenaean and Hittite civilizations collapsed and the Egyptians eventually stopped the invaders under Ramesses iii. While Egypt didn't fall, they were severely weakened. The Golden Age of Egypt was now in the past. Likewise, though not directly affected. The Babylonian empire in Mesopotamia and what was left of the Assyrian empire also declined. And there were also effects as far away as the Caucasus, North Africa and northern Iran. Much of this had to do with the collapse of trade routes. The bronze, which was core to the Bronze Age, required tin, which came primarily from Afghanistan and to a lesser extent from Britain. The result was a centuries long Dark Age in many regions during which the centralized states were replaced by smaller, less complex societies and cultural and economic recovery was slow. Systems of writing like linear B script used by the Mycenaeans totally vanished. This collapse reshaped the ancient world and set the stage for the emergence of new Iron Age civilizations. One theory is that the use of iron came about not because it was a better metal than bronze, but rather because nobody could easily make bronze anymore because the supply of tin had dried up. The collapse of the Bronze Age was a bigger shock to the world than the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, which took much longer to play out. It took several centuries. But out of this Bronze Age Dark Ages came the classical civilizations of the Iron Age that we're more familiar Greece, Rome, Phoenicia, Carthage and the Persian empires. The collapse of the Late Bronze Age is simultaneously one of the most important events in human history and also one of the least understood. It reshaped the ancient world, eventually leading to the rise of new civilizations and the eventual dominance of Iron Age cultures. The period remains a subject of fascination due to its complex web of causes and its enduring impact on the trajectory of human history. The executive producer of Everything Everywhere Daily is Charles Daniel. The associate producers are Benji Long and Cameron Keever. I want to give a big shout out to everyone who supports the show over on Patreon, including the show's producers. Your support helps me put out a show every single day and also Patreon is currently the only place where Everything Everywhere Daily merchandise is available to the top tier of supporters. If you'd like to talk to other listeners of the show and members of the Completionist Club, you can join the Everything Everywhere Daily Facebook group or Discord server. Links to Everything are in the show notes.