The Year Civilization's Collapse

Bronze Age civilization’s collapse is one of the most complex moments in ancient world history. The period consisted of many different societies who were interconnected through many diverse links such as trade and diplomacy. However, although civilization flourished during this time, it came to a cataclysmic end in 1177 B.C. Archaeologists and historians have struggled throughout the decades trying to figure out the reason for this collapse, proposing numerous explanations which cover topics such as climate, invasion, and natural phenomena. As a result, through his book, Cline tries to set the record straight on different theories and beliefs on the collapse and what caused it. Cline’s book 1177 B.C. The Year Civilization Collapsed modifies

The Year Civilization Collapsed modifies earlier interpretations of LBA society and its collapse by showing how no single people brought down the Late Bronze Age civilization. This can be seen when he argues that surviving archaeological evidence shows that sea people were not the reason for the collapse of Mycenae. For example, he says, “the archaeological context… offers no evidence for migrations or invasions on any scale for local disturbances during the 12th and 11th century B.C. Mycenae did not meet with a violent end (Cline, 130-131). Also, it is shown that other factors such as their regional enemy the Kashka were responsible for Hittite Empire’s collapse. For example, although buildings in the capital city of Hattusa were destroyed by fire, archaeological evidence indicates that the Kashka were more likely than the Sea Peoples to have caused the destruction because public buildings were the only structures that were destroyed (Cline, 126). Analysis of this evidence shows that an invasion by the sea people was unlikely because although there was destruction across the Mediterranean and the Aegean, there was no clear evidence which proves who was

This can be observed when he argues how influential a systems collapse can be on an interconnected, globalized society such as the LBA civilization. For example, the effects of a LBA systems collapse can be seen in Cline’s book when he mentions how a systems collapse produced a multiplier effect which crippled trade routes between different societies and then created a domino effect which caused the collapse of one society as a result of interconnection with others societies (Cline, 165). The impact of a systems collapse can also be seen when Cline mentions how globalization and interconnection could cause instability in LBA society. For example, he says, “If the Late Bronze Age civilization were truly globalized and dependent upon each other for good and services, even just to a certain extent, then change to any one of the relevant kingdoms…would affect and destabilize them all” (Cline, 168). Analysis of this evidence shows that a systems collapse was a major reason for the collapse of LBA society because as a result of many factors working together such as earthquakes, war and drought, a systems collapse occurred which brought down all the interconnected civilizations of the