The Overlooked Dark Ages: A Journey Through History's Shadows
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In the ancient harbor city of Ugarit, located in present-day Northern Syria, archaeologists unearthed a poignant call for assistance.
An ancient correspondence dated 1177 B.C. expressed:
“Father, behold, the enemy's vessels have arrived; my cities are in flames, and they wreak havoc in my land. Does not my father realize that all my soldiers and chariots are in the Land of Hatti, and all my ships are in the Land of Lukka? Thus, the country is left to its own fate. Let my father know: the seven enemy ships that arrived here have caused immense destruction.”
This plea came from Ammurapi, the final ruler of the city, as Ugarit, once a thriving Bronze Age center, was reduced to ashes, its inhabitants slaughtered.
Ugarit was not alone in its fate. Numerous cities across the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Middle East crumbled during the late Bronze Age. Advanced civilizations were obliterated and never rebounded.
Egypt managed to persist, albeit barely, lingering beyond its former glory.
Thus, the world descended into a period of obscurity.
The phrase "Dark Ages" is frequently misassigned to the Middle Ages that followed the fall of the western Roman Empire in 476 A.D. However, the time following the collapse of Bronze Age civilizations marked an era where human advancement stagnated. It is reasonable to label this phase as the "Dark Ages," from which humanity required at least five centuries to recuperate.
Let us delve into the events and life during these "Dark Ages."
What Was the Late Bronze Age Collapse?
Throughout the Bronze Age (3300–1200 B.C.), numerous civilizations flourished around the Mediterranean. Among the most prominent were Egypt (North Africa), Hittites (Anatolia), Mycenaeans (Greece), and the Mittani (Syria and Israel).
Other significant civilizations that engaged in trade with these Mediterranean cultures included Babylon in Iraq, Elam in Iran, and the Indus Valley in India.
The Bronze Age, characterized by the use of bronze—an alloy of copper and tin—marked a leap from the earlier copper age. However, tin's scarcity meant that civilizations depended on one another for trading resources, leading to the establishment of intricate urban centers.
Yet, starting around 1200 B.C., the most advanced civilizations fell into ruin within a mere fifty years.
Why did this collapse occur?
In the late 19th century, historians attributed the downfall to the Sea Peoples, drawing from ancient Egyptian records. These invaders appeared unexpectedly on the shores of Bronze Age cities, pillaging and destroying.
Then, just as suddenly, they vanished!
While this explanation fit the narrative of the time, contemporary historians argue that the Sea Peoples were not the root cause but rather a symptom of a broader crisis. Cities typically rebound after attacks—Rome and Beijing have both endured numerous sieges yet remain standing.
Thus, we must consider why these cities were abandoned.
The decline of the Bronze Age drew the attention of 20th-century scholars, leading to various intriguing theories: climate change, volcanic eruptions, disease outbreaks, and famine were among the cited reasons.
Famine stands out as the most compelling argument, supported by substantial evidence. Droughts would have led to food shortages, triggering a chain reaction: inadequate food supply meant fewer exports, which in turn reduced revenue. This financial decline hindered the ability to pay soldiers, scribes, and tax collectors, setting the stage for uprisings and social unrest.
Today, it is believed that the Sea Peoples capitalized on the weakened state of these civilizations due to prevailing conditions.
Some Hittite texts indicate that their long-time rivals, the Mycenaeans, played a role in these invasions, suggesting that the Sea Peoples were not entirely unknown.
The Trojan War, chronicled in Homer’s epic tales, Iliad and Odyssey, occurred during this era, wherein Mycenaeans attacked Troy, likely a vassal of the Hittites.
However, one of the most compelling theories regarding the Bronze Age collapse is the notion of an all-encompassing "systems collapse."
Bronze Age societies were highly centralized and interdependent, akin to our modern globalized world. Disruptions in one area, whether due to natural disasters, warfare, or human migrations, could have far-reaching effects elsewhere, instigating a domino effect that toppled civilizations like a house of cards.
For instance, the 2008 financial crisis in the United States led to a worldwide economic downturn. While contemporary systems can manage such shocks, a significant event in 1200 B.C. would have been catastrophic.
Why Was the Period Following the Bronze Age Collapse an Era of Darkness?
After the Bronze Age collapse, inhabitants of complex urban centers fled, retreating to mountainous foothills or remote rural areas.
Sophisticated urban planning was replaced by simpler villages reminiscent of earlier, less advanced times. People began to reside in mud structures instead of durable brick buildings.
While some researchers attribute the collapse to diseases, these stemmed from failing sanitation systems. The destruction of cities disrupted drainage and waste management.
As citizens witnessed their towns fill with corpses and the spread of illness, they fled. The new settlements in the foothills lacked the sanitation levels of urban areas, and restoration would take time.
The complex international trade networks disintegrated. Although trade continued among the emerging communities, the scale was vastly diminished. The meticulous accounting systems that recorded taxes and trade agreements disappeared.
Weights and measures, once standardized among these civilizations, ceased to be used, except in Egypt and Assyria.
The most significant loss of the Bronze Age collapse was the disappearance of writing.
Training scribes—professional writers and record-keepers—was an expensive endeavor. They required years of education and dedication to their craft.
As the economy declined, there was no funding for central authorities to pay scribes, leading to a loss of the profession. Writing systems vanished, and it would take four centuries before writing and record-keeping re-emerged at the dawn of the Classical Era.
Upon examining the causes of the Bronze Age collapse, famine is one of the most compelling suspects. But what was the impact of droughts? Irrigation and agricultural systems deteriorated.
Farmers received directives on when and how to harvest their crops, as management was centralized during the Bronze Age. With the collapse of these systems, such guidance ceased, and fields were gradually deserted.
Art and craftsmanship also suffered during this time. Without royal patronage, post-Bronze Age pottery lacked the artistry of its predecessors. As people had to focus on basic survival, specialized potters likely disappeared, leading to a decline in the craft.
Egypt managed to withstand the shock of the Bronze Age collapse due to its substantial gold reserves from the kingdom of Kush.
However, the world changed for the worse.
One significant lesson from the Bronze Age collapse is the fragility of a globalized world. Disruptions in one region can profoundly affect lives elsewhere.
The more resilient these systems become, the better our chances of sustaining human progress.
If you found this exploration of the Bronze Age collapse and the ensuing dark ages intriguing, consider reading more about one of the key factors blamed for this catastrophe, the Sea Peoples.
Who Were the Mysterious Sea Peoples Blamed for the Bronze Age Collapse?
They emerged from the sea, devastated civilizations, and vanished!
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References
- Cline, Eric H. (2014). 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
- Dickinson, Oliver (2007). The Aegean from Bronze Age to Iron Age: Continuity and Change Between the Twelfth and Eighth Centuries BCE. Routledge.
- Richard, “Archaeological sources for the history of Palestine: The Early Bronze Age: The rise and collapse of urbanism”, The Biblical Archaeologist.
- Yurco, Frank J. (1999). “End of the Late Bronze Age and Other Crisis Periods: A Volcanic Cause.”
- D’Amato R., Salimbeti A. (2015). The Sea Peoples of the Mediterranean Bronze Age 1450–1100 BC. London: Osprey.