Eric H. Cline, PhD in Ancient History, presents a theory on why the once flourishing Bronze Age civilizations collapsed. It was long held that the mysterious Sea People, a vast horde of invaders who may have come from the Western Mediterranean, toppled one nation after another, moving through Greece, then Anatolia (modern Turkey), into the Levant, and finally being stopped by Egypt, the only civilization to survive the collapse. The belief that the Sea Peoples were at fault was largely tied to Egyptian reports of attacks. Cline has a different view. Recent archeology (last half century) has revealed a variety of ills that befell the Late Bronze Age. There are signs of drought, which would have led to famine and migration; the Sea People may have been fleeing famine and seeking more fruitful lands. There are signs of earthquakes that toppled cities. There is the amazing level of international trade which, when interrupted, could have led to crashes in the economies. All of these factors struck before the civilization could recover from the previous shock. This 'perfect storm' of misfortunes caused the collapse and an ensuing dark age.
A great and engaging book for those interested in ancient history. An excellent presentation by the author himself is available on YouTube: 1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed.
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