1177 B.C.

1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed by Eric H. Cline, Princeton University Press, 2014. [New edition in 2021!]

Metals

Different periods of ancient history are named for the main metals and metal alloys they used. The Bronze Age was named for bronze. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. Cyprus was a good source of copper, but in was harder to come by.

Causes

The book is mainly about the Bronze Age Collapse, where civilization was followed by a less advanced dark ages. The author discusses several possible causes of the collapse, including weather, earthquakes, and invasions by foreigners. It also discusses the time periods before and after the collapse.

Events

Events during the Bronze Age Collapse (1225 to 1130 BC):

• 1250 B.C.: Ugarit earthquake 

• 1207 B.C.: Sea Peoples (Philistines, Shekelesh, Shardana) attack Egypt

• 1200 BC: Hattusa destroyed 

• 1250 B.C. - 1200 BC: Drought 

• 1225-1175 B.C.: Earthquakes in Greece

• 1190-1185 B.C.: Ugarit destroyed

• 1177 BC: Sea Peoples attack Egypt during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses III