Archaeologists have begun to realize that the collapse of the Bronze Age civilizations 3,000 years ago was not simply caused by the migration and wars of the "Sea Peoples," but by climate change, natural disasters, and much more.
In fact, Eric Cline, PhD, says in his presentation that the collapse of the Bronze Age reminds him of what is happening today, in its earlier stages.
And in this crazy thread, you will see how it all connects to a Geomagnetic Excursion and a Grand Solar Minima, two things happening right now and in the near future. Buckle up, this is going to be a wild ride of thread! (1/10)🧵
Around 1200 BCE, the Eastern Mediterranean world entered chaos. Archaeological surveys show dozens of cities destroyed or abandoned. From Mycenae to Ugarit, palaces burned. Trade routes collapsed, and populations declined. Something larger than war was at work.
Climate proxies confirm a megadrought. Speleothem oxygen isotopes from Israel show a drastic drop in rainfall. Pollen records from Syria reveal a sharp reduction in crops. Tree rings from Anatolia record three consecutive years of drought between 1198 and 1196 BCE.
Scientists now realize that the entire wave of migrations by the Sea Peoples was driven by desperation and the search for resources for survival. This climate change caused a global famine across the entire region of these developed civilizations. The famine is even recorded in clay tablets. (2/10)🧵
The Hittite Empire, a superpower of the Late Bronze Age, could not withstand this drought. Their capital Hattusa was abandoned. Clay tablets speak of famine, grain shortages, and desperate appeals for aid. Environmental collapse struck at the core of their power.
In Greece, the palatial centers of Mycenae, Pylos, and Tiryns were destroyed. Linear B script vanished, literacy was lost, and Greece entered centuries of decline. Excavations reveal widespread fire destruction and sudden population dispersal. Egyptian inscriptions record waves of invaders known as the Sea Peoples.
Reliefs at Medinet Habu show entire families migrating by ship. Scholars link them to Aegean and Anatolian refugees displaced by famine. Their raids and resettlements reshaped the Levant. (3/10)🧵
The story of the Trojan War fits into this collapse. Troy controlled a vital trade choke point. If famine and migration destabilized the Aegean, conflicts over resources could have sparked the legendary battles that Homer later preserved in mythic form.
By 1050 BCE, the Greek world lay in ruins. The so-called Dark Age saw population levels plummet by up to 75%. Pottery styles regressed, international trade ceased, and survival replaced luxury. Generations grew up without writing or centralized power.
Climate records show the drought did not end quickly. Sediment cores from the Levant reveal aridity lasting centuries, from 1200 to 850 BCE. This long dry phase prevented civilizations from recovering, prolonging the Greek Dark Ages. (4/10)🧵
This collapse was not isolated. Across the Mediterranean, Cyprus, Canaan, the Hittites, the Mycenaeans, and others fell together. Eric Cline calls it a “systems collapse,” triggered by climate but worsened by wars, migrations, and internal revolts.
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