The Year Civilization Collapsed
It marks the moment when the civilised world entered the Dark Ages and some of the most spectacular societies in the world disappeared.
Now one historian claims he has unraveled what may have lead to the downfall of Ancient Egypt and other Bronze Age civilisations collapse.
He claims they were hit by a ‘perfect storm’ of disasters 3,200 years ago that left the Ancient Egyptians, the Babylonians, Minoans and Mycenians unable to cope.
He claims that a series of droughts, famines, climate change, earthquakes, invasions and internal rebellions between 1225BC and 1177 BC happened in quick succession.
Speaking to Haaretz, he said: ‘Normally if a culture if faced with just one of these tragedies, it can survive it, but what if they all happened at once or in quick succession.
‘I think that the Late Bronze Age civilisations were simply unable to weather the “perfect storm” and cam crashing down.
‘The thriving economy and cultures of the late second millennium BCE, which had stretched from Greece to Egypt and Mesopotamia, suddenly ceased to exist, long-used trade routes were abandoned, along with writing systems, advanced technology, and monumental architecture.’
Professor Cline sets out his arguments in his recent book ‘1177BC The Year Civilisation Collapsed’.
The claims the events that led up to the collapse of these civilisations marked a turning point in ancient history.
The demise of the powerful ancient civilisations has long been blamed on a mysterious group of seafaring raiders known as the Sea Peoples.
These marauding people have been credited with having invaded and destroyed large swathes of Ancient Egypt, Hittite, Mycenian and Mitanni kingdoms around the Mediterranean.
A series of battles between the Egyptians and the Sea People’s are depicted on the Medinet Habu wall relief at Ramesses III’s tomb on the west bank of Luxor in Egypt.
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