The Hittites, Mycenaean Greece and many trading cities collapsed in a short span. Egypt survived but was weakened. Writing disappeared in parts of Greece for centuries.
Truth label: Established. Strong evidence and broad agreement among experts.
Go deeper
The Sea Peoples
Egyptian records describe raiders arriving by sea. Who they were is still unclear.
A perfect storm
Many historians think drought, earthquakes, famine, raids and broken trade links all hit at once.
Learn
- A connected world. The Bronze Age relied on long trade routes for tin and copper. When those broke, everything wobbled.
- What is debated. The collapse is well documented. Which cause mattered most is still argued over.
Test yourself
Which mysterious group appears in Egyptian records of this time?
The Sea Peoples. Egyptian inscriptions describe invasions by the Sea Peoples.
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