Civilisations that Collapsed

Towards the end of the Bronze Age, traditionally dated at 1200 BC, the civilisations that had emerged over the previous millennia in the Middle East collapsed.

This series of articles questions whether the disappearance of those civilisations was as a result of a 'collapse' or whether there was a long, slow disintegration over a period of some 435 years.

We shall also be looking at the processes and events that contributed to the eventual demise of the Bronze Age civilisations and dig deep into some of the historical dogma that has emerged since the 19th century AD when the concept of a collapse first emerged.

1: Did the Bronze Age Civilisations Collapse?

Did the Bronze Age civilisations in the Middle East collapse in 1200 BC or was it a long slow disintegration spread over Read the article >>

2: The Rise of Empires and Trading Networks

The Rise of Bronze Age Empires alongside Trading Networks

When considering the collapse of the Bronze Age civilisations in the Near East, historians tend to neglect the role of a Read the article >>

3: Diplomacy between Bronze Age Empires

The Development of Diplomacy Between Bronze Age Empires

As city states gave way to empires, it became necessary for rulers to be able to communicate with each other. Diplomacy Read the article >>

4: The Bronze Age Great Powers Club

From the Armani letters we can deduce that the purpose of the Great Powers Club, even though it was never known as such Read the article >>

5: The 3.2k-Year BP Event

The 3.2k-Year BP Event: Climatic Stress and the End of the Bronze Age

This article delves into the 3.2k-year BP event, a significant period of drought around 1200 BC, and its profound impact Read the article >>

6: Managing Vassal States during the Bronze Age

The Late Bronze Age Middle East was dominated by a handful of powerful kingdoms stretching from Anatolia through Mesopot Read the article >>

7: When Diplomacy Ends, War Begins

Diplomacy in Action During the Bronze Age

We have looked at how diplomacy in the Middle East developed during the Bronze Age in the article, 'Diplomacy between Br Read the article >>

8: Bronze Age Mercenaries - The Habiru

Bronze Age Mercenaries - Who were the Habiru tribes in the Bronze Age?

Mercenaries in the Middle East are nothing new. The Habiru were renowned for their ferocity and for fighting for the hig Read the article >>

9: The Trojan War and the Battle of Troy

Did the Trojan War happen? If so, when did the Trojan War occur? Was the Trojan War and the battle of Troy just one elem Read the article >>

10: The Bronze Age Sea Peoples

The Mystery of the Bronze Age Sea Peoples

The bronze age sea peoples who ravaged the Middle East during the late bronze age were an enigma to the powers that rule Read the article >>

11: Late Bronze Age Civilisations

Late Bronze Age Civilisations of the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean

The Bronze Age civilisations of the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean started to emerge about 1750 BC. Most reached Read the article >>

12: The Collapse of the Kingdom of Mitanni

The Collapse of the Bronze Age Kingdom of Mitanni

The Kingdom of Mitanni was the first of the bronze age civilisations to disintegrate from being a member of the 'Great P Read the article >>

13: Beginning of the End 1400 - 1387 BC

Beginning of the End for the Bronze Age Civilisations 1400 - 1387 BC

In this article we look at the history of the bronze age civilisations in the Middle East from the beginning of the 14th Read the article >>

14: Marriages and Alliances 1387 - 1360 BC

An alliance between Mitanni and Egypt and the fall and rise of Hattusi 1387 - 1360 BC

In less than a quarter of a century, the Hittite Empire almost disappears and Egypt forms an alliance with the rebel Arz Read the article >>