The Bronze Age collapse was the widespread breakdown of Late Bronze Age civilizations in the eastern Mediterranean and the Near East. Mycenaean palaces in Greece were destroyed, the Hittite Empire disintegrated, and cities such as Ugarit were burned and abandoned, while Egypt survived but was weakened after repelling attacks by the Sea Peoples under Ramesses III. The causes are debated and probably combined several factors: earthquakes, prolonged drought and famine, invasions and migrations, internal rebellions, and the collapse of the trade networks that had linked the palace economies. The aftermath was a dark age in Greece, with the loss of Linear B writing, and the rise of smaller states, such as those of the Phoenicians, Philistines, Arameans and Israelites, until the later growth of the Neo-Assyrian Empire.
Before and after
- from 13th century BCE to 6th century BCEAncient Israel and Judah
- from 13th century BCE to 4th century BCEMagadha
- 13th century BCEAncient Celts
- c. 1,201 BCEThe Olmec civilisation emerges at San Lorenzo
- from c. 1,200 BCE to 1,150 BCEBronze Age collapse
- c. 1,200 BCEIron Age
- from c. 1,200 BCE to 450 BCEHallstatt culture
- from c. 1,200 BCE to 800 BCEUrnfield culture
- from c. 1,200 BCE to 150 BCEPhoenician script
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- from 31st century BCE to 14th century BCEConstruction of Stonehenge
- from c. 753 BCE to 476 CEAncient Rome
- 7th century BCEConstruction of Hanging Gardens of Babylon
- 80 CEThe Colosseum is inaugurated
- from 285 CE to 1453Byzantine Empire
- 25 March 421 CEFounding of Venice
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 12th century BCE.