In 1177 B.C., marauding groups known only as the 'Sea Peoples' invaded Egypt. The pharaoh's army and navy managed to defeat them, but the victory so weakened Egypt that it soon slid into decline, as did most of the surrounding civilisations. After centuries of brilliance, the civilised world of the Bronze Age came to an abrupt and cataclysmic end. Kingdoms fell like dominoes over the course of just a few decades. No more Minoans or Mycenaeans. No more Trojans, Hittites, or Babylonians. The thriving economy and cultures of the late second millennium B.C., which had stretched from Greece to Egypt and Mesopotamia, suddenly ceased to exist, along with writing systems, technology, and monumental architecture. But the Sea Peoples alone could not have caused such widespread breakdown. How did it happen? In this major new account of the causes of this 'First Dark Ages,' Eric Cline tells the gripping story of how the end was brought about by multiple interconnected failures, ranging from invasion and revolt to earthquakes, drought, and the cutting of international trade routes. Bringing to life the vibrant multicultural world of these great civilisations, he draws a sweeping panorama of the empires and globalised peoples of the Late Bronze Age and shows that it was their very interdependence that hastened their dramatic collapse and ushered in a dark age that lasted centuries. A compelling combination of narrative and the latest scholarship, 1177 B.C. sheds new light on the complex ties that gave rise to, and ultimately destroyed, the flourishing civilisations of the Late Bronze Age - and that set the stage for the emergence of classical Greece. 'This is an excellent, thought-provoking book that brings to life an era that is not well known to most readers.' - Amanda H. Podany, author of, Brotherhood of Kings: How International Relations Shaped the Ancient Near East 'The most analytically satisfying, accessible, and of course up-to-date treatment of one of the great enigmas of the ancient world.' - Christoph Bachhuber, Historian
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Princeton University Press
ISBN-13
9780691140896
eBay Product ID (ePID)
200691281
Product Key Features
Author
Eric H. Cline
Publication Name
1177 B.C.: the Year Civilization Collapsed
Format
Hardcover
Language
English
Subject
Archaeology, History
Publication Year
2014
Type
Textbook
Number of Pages
264 Pages
Dimensions
Item Height
235mm
Item Width
152mm
Item Weight
539g
Additional Product Features
Title_Author
Eric H. Cline
Series Title
Turning Points in Ancient History
Country/Region of Manufacture
United States
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