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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 | [[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 | ** 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) | *** 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, | **** 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 | * 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 | ** dated at 1021, 1135 or 1159 BC | ||
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** regardless, the BAC had started before the eruption | ** regardless, the BAC had started before the eruption | ||
* impacts of droughts & cooling: | * impacts of droughts & cooling: | ||
** reduced growing season | |||
*** soil depletion | |||
*** longer winters | |||
** crop failure leads to | ** crop failure leads to | ||
*** famine | *** famine | ||