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A review by elcilor
1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed by Eric H. Cline
1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed consists roughly of two parts: (1) the Eastern Mediterranean world plus Mesopotamia from 1500 B.C. up to the Late Bronze Age Collapse, and (2) the Late Bronze Age Collapse itself.
For me, the first part was easier to read because it provided a global overview of the "civilized" kingdoms and their interactions. Additionally, I had already read about subjects like the expulsion of the Hyksos, the Uluburun shipwreck, the Trojan War, the failed marriage between an Egyptian queen (either Ankhesenamun or Nefertiti) and a Hittite prince, the Battle of Kadesh, and the Amarna and Ugarit archives. Beyond these topics, Cline, a professor of classics and anthropology, emphasizes the economic interconnectedness of states in the region. Another excellent book on this subject is The Making of the Middle Sea by Cyprian Broodbank.
In part two, the book became truly interesting for me, and the complexity increased somewhat. What caused the collapse of various states like Ugarit, Hattusa, Mycenae, and Cyprus, as well as the impoverishment of the Egyptians? Cline mentions several possible causes: a so-called earthquake storm from c. 1225 B.C. - 1175 B.C., internal revolts, invaders such as the mysterious Sea Peoples, the collapse of international trade, possible diseases, or a mega-drought lasting 300 years and the associated famine.
While the last potential cause seems to be, in my layman’s view, by far the most important—and Cline seems to cautiously suggest it as a key factor—the book argues that it was primarily the combination of multiple or all factors, creating a "perfect storm." Other factors certainly contributed as well in my view. If there had been only drought and famine, with other factors magically absent, my viewpoint would, of course, no longer hold, because than there wouldn't be a collapse. I just think that a 300-year megadrought is a likely cause for internal revolts, invaders and economic collapse. But as always: the list of contributing factors to human behavior is almost infinite.
The book also briefly discusses complexity theory and draws parallels with modern society. If one small cog in the world system fails or functions unfavorably (think, for example, of Covid-19 in modern times), it can have major consequences for the entire system. This was especially true in the Late Bronze Age. The author does rightly note that European society has become significantly more complex over the past 300 years while not collapsing, making this argument less relevant for this time period than it was over 3,000 years ago.
While the author understandably mentions Covid-19 as an example of how things could truly go wrong (the updated version was published in February 2021), in retrospect, I don’t think it’s a strong example. After all, our system remained intact. Even climate change, while posing a poignant disaster for less wealthy countries and the animal kingdom, currently seems manageable for the world system as a whole to me. For instance, desalination plants could help during times of drought. However, Cline's main point still stands: with a few local disruptions, the system could falter. Consider today’s conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the risk of escalation in Taiwan. For what it’s worth: I remain hopeful for a promising 21st and 22nd century for humanity.
With enthusiasm I move on to the recently published After 1177 B.C.: The Survival of Civilizations.
For me, the first part was easier to read because it provided a global overview of the "civilized" kingdoms and their interactions. Additionally, I had already read about subjects like the expulsion of the Hyksos, the Uluburun shipwreck, the Trojan War, the failed marriage between an Egyptian queen (either Ankhesenamun or Nefertiti) and a Hittite prince, the Battle of Kadesh, and the Amarna and Ugarit archives. Beyond these topics, Cline, a professor of classics and anthropology, emphasizes the economic interconnectedness of states in the region. Another excellent book on this subject is The Making of the Middle Sea by Cyprian Broodbank.
In part two, the book became truly interesting for me, and the complexity increased somewhat. What caused the collapse of various states like Ugarit, Hattusa, Mycenae, and Cyprus, as well as the impoverishment of the Egyptians? Cline mentions several possible causes: a so-called earthquake storm from c. 1225 B.C. - 1175 B.C., internal revolts, invaders such as the mysterious Sea Peoples, the collapse of international trade, possible diseases, or a mega-drought lasting 300 years and the associated famine.
While the last potential cause seems to be, in my layman’s view, by far the most important—and Cline seems to cautiously suggest it as a key factor—the book argues that it was primarily the combination of multiple or all factors, creating a "perfect storm." Other factors certainly contributed as well in my view. If there had been only drought and famine, with other factors magically absent, my viewpoint would, of course, no longer hold, because than there wouldn't be a collapse. I just think that a 300-year megadrought is a likely cause for internal revolts, invaders and economic collapse. But as always: the list of contributing factors to human behavior is almost infinite.
The book also briefly discusses complexity theory and draws parallels with modern society. If one small cog in the world system fails or functions unfavorably (think, for example, of Covid-19 in modern times), it can have major consequences for the entire system. This was especially true in the Late Bronze Age. The author does rightly note that European society has become significantly more complex over the past 300 years while not collapsing, making this argument less relevant for this time period than it was over 3,000 years ago.
While the author understandably mentions Covid-19 as an example of how things could truly go wrong (the updated version was published in February 2021), in retrospect, I don’t think it’s a strong example. After all, our system remained intact. Even climate change, while posing a poignant disaster for less wealthy countries and the animal kingdom, currently seems manageable for the world system as a whole to me. For instance, desalination plants could help during times of drought. However, Cline's main point still stands: with a few local disruptions, the system could falter. Consider today’s conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the risk of escalation in Taiwan. For what it’s worth: I remain hopeful for a promising 21st and 22nd century for humanity.
With enthusiasm I move on to the recently published After 1177 B.C.: The Survival of Civilizations.