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Late Bronze Age Collapse: Difference between revisions
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'''Bronze Age Collapse | '''Late Bronze Age Collapse''' or '''Bronze Age Collapse''' | ||
[[World History]] | * approx 1200-1050 BC | ||
* referred to as the "Late Bronze Age collapse" because the events happened "late" in the Bronze Age period | |||
* this article will refer to it as the "BAC" (for "Bronze Age Collapse") | |||
[[category:World History]] | |||
== Overview == | == Overview == | ||
[[File:Bronze Age End.svg|thumb|Invasions, destruction and possible population movements during the collapse of the Bronze Age, beginning c. 1200 BC.]] | |||
* a period of social, economic and political disruption, warfare, famine & illiteracy | * a period of social, economic and political disruption, warfare, famine & illiteracy | ||
* marked by collapse of major state powers, including New Kingdom Egypt, Hittites, Kassites (Babylonia), Mycaenean kingdoms | * marked by collapse of major state powers, including New Kingdom Egypt, Hittites, Kassites (Babylonia), Mycaenean kingdoms | ||
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=== Climate change & drought === | === Climate change & drought === | ||
* drought and cooling conditions may have prevailed throughout the period | |||
** the Middle Bronze Age Cold Epoch lasted from 1800-1500 BC | |||
*** likely made more severe by major volcanic eruptions, including Thera in Greece (1620 BC) | |||
**** which largely contributed to the collapse of the Minoans, Middle Kingdom Egypt, | |||
** a period of general warming followed, 1500-800, which would have led to increases in population and trade | |||
** however, this warming was interrupted during the BAC period | |||
*** evidence of drought: | |||
**** reduced tree cover (forests) in Mediterranean region | |||
**** reduced Nile River flow | |||
**** level of the Dead Sea dropped by up to 150 ft | |||
* the Hekla 3 volcanic eruption in Iceland accelerated the cooling and/or caused a period of cooling and dryness | |||
** dated at 1021, 1135 or 1159 BC | |||
** drought & famines recorded in Egypt in 1159 BC may mark the eruption | |||
** one of the most powerful eruptions since the end of the Ice Age | |||
** it cast ash across the atmosphere, blocking or partially blocking sunlight across the Northern hemisphere for possibly up to four years | |||
*** such volcano-caused climatic events are called "volcanic winters" | |||
** regardless, the BAC had started before the eruption | |||
* impacts of droughts & cooling: | |||
** reduced growing season | |||
*** soil depletion | |||
*** longer winters | |||
** crop failure leads to | |||
*** famine | |||
*** trade decline | |||
*** social unrest | |||
** changes in vegetation and/or forest cover impact animals and herding | |||
** migration | |||
*** causes competition over land | |||
*** puts pressure on food supplies | |||
*** fighting, raiding, unrest | |||
** political instability | |||
*** in larger ancient societies, the legitimacy of central rule is derived from divine authority (of the gods) | |||
*** therefore, if there are problems, the rulers are seen as having lost the favor of the gods and thus their authority | |||
=== Metallurgy technologies (cast bronze & iron-making) === | === Metallurgy technologies (cast bronze & iron-making) === | ||
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** Homer used the word for "spear" as a reference to "warrior" | ** Homer used the word for "spear" as a reference to "warrior" | ||
=== Migrations === | === Migrations === | ||
== Events == | == Events == | ||