The End of Civilization (In the Bronze Age): Crash Course World History 211

CrashCourse
3 Oct 201412:58
EducationalLearning
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TLDRIn this Crash Course World History episode, John Green explores the end of a Bronze Age civilization in the ancient Near East, examining the interconnectedness through trade and diplomacy that characterized the era. He discusses various theories for the civilization's collapse around 1200 BCE, including invasions by the mysterious sea peoples, earthquakes, environmental changes, and social upheaval. Green emphasizes the relevance of understanding historical events and their complexity, drawing parallels to today's interconnected global system.

Takeaways
  • 🌍 The concept of the end of civilization is discussed, specifically focusing on the ancient Near East at the end of the Bronze Age, rather than the Y2K scare.
  • 🏺 The ancient Near East, including Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Levant, and Anatolia, formed a unified system with extensive trade networks.
  • 🛳️ Underwater archaeology has revealed trade connections, such as a shipwreck from the 13th century BCE containing items from seven different states.
  • 🛡️ The late Bronze Age was marked by warfare among empires like Egypt, Hittites, and Assyrians, with military success driving economic growth.
  • 🤝 Diplomatic relationships and familial ties, both real and imagined, existed between rival communities, sometimes leading to peaceful periods of trade.
  • 🏰 The collapse of the Bronze Age civilization is a historical mystery, with cities suffering upheaval and destruction around 1200 BCE.
  • 🌊 The traditional explanation for the collapse was invasions by the sea peoples, but this theory is suspect due to lack of concrete evidence.
  • 🌄 The possibility of natural disasters like earthquakes, referred to as 'earthquake storms', is another theory for the collapse of the civilization.
  • 🌾 Environmental changes, such as a drier climate and famine, as well as social issues like peasant uprisings, are also considered as contributing factors.
  • 📈 The rise of private traders disrupting the palace-based trading system is a modern theory, but it may not align with historical evidence of the transition.
  • 🔄 The interconnectedness of the late Bronze Age civilization may have made it vulnerable to systemic collapse, similar to today's globalized world.
Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The main topic of the video is the end of a civilization in the ancient Near East at the end of the Bronze Age, focusing on the interconnectedness of the civilizations and the mystery surrounding their collapse.

  • How does John Green address the misconception about the end of civilization with Y2K?

    -John Green humorously dismisses the Y2K fears by stating that civilization did indeed survive the year 2000, and then he transitions into discussing the end of an ancient civilization, not the hypothetical end of our own.

  • What is the significance of trade in the ancient Near East during the Bronze Age?

    -Trade was significant as it connected various civilizations like Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the states in the Levant, creating a unified system where goods manufactured in one region could be found in another, indicating a high level of interaction and interconnectedness.

  • What role did warfare play in the late Bronze Age civilizations?

    -Warfare was common between the major empires such as the Egyptians, Hittites, and Assyrians from 1500 to 1200 BCE. Military success and conquest were seen as a means to extend power and prestige, and were also a primary driver of economic growth.

  • How did diplomacy manifest among rival communities in the ancient Near East?

    -Diplomacy often involved leaders from rival communities referring to each other by family names or imagining family relationships, even if they weren't blood-related. Sometimes, wars would end with diplomatic marriages, creating actual familial ties and periods of peace and trade.

  • What is the 'sea peoples' theory regarding the collapse of the Bronze Age civilizations?

    -The 'sea peoples' theory suggests that a confederation of invaders from the sea was responsible for the destruction and collapse of several civilizations around 1200 BCE, including the Mycenaeans, Minoans, and Hittites. However, this theory is debated and lacks definitive evidence.

  • What is the 'earthquake storm' theory proposed by archeo-seismologists?

    -The 'earthquake storm' theory posits that a series of large earthquakes occurred in the eastern Mediterranean between 1225 and 1175 BCE, causing significant physical and political destabilization in the region, which may have contributed to the collapse of the Bronze Age civilizations.

  • What other factors could have contributed to the collapse of the Bronze Age civilizations?

    -Other factors include environmental calamities like drought and famine, peasant uprisings, trade disruptions, and the rise of private entrepreneurial traders that potentially undermined the palace-based trading system.

  • How does John Green relate the collapse of the Bronze Age civilizations to our current globalized world?

    -John Green suggests that the interconnected trade and diplomacy-based system of the ancient Near East is similar to our modern globalized civilization. He highlights that the collapse of one part of a highly interconnected system can have widespread effects, drawing parallels to how a financial crisis in one country can impact economies worldwide.

  • What caution does John Green offer about interpreting historical events?

    -John Green cautions against applying present-day perspectives to historical events, emphasizing the importance of understanding the past on its own terms. He also advises skepticism towards any single-cause explanation for complex historical phenomena.

  • How does the video conclude regarding the lessons we can learn from the Bronze Age collapse?

    -The video concludes that understanding the collapse of the Bronze Age civilizations can be helpful if we see it as an analogy to our own interconnected world. However, it also stresses the importance of not overly projecting modern contexts onto historical events and considering multiple factors when trying to understand historical collapses.

Outlines
00:00
🌍 The Bronze Age Civilizations and Their Interconnections

This paragraph introduces the topic of the ancient Near East civilizations at the end of the Bronze Age, emphasizing their interconnectedness through trade and diplomacy. It discusses the commonalities between civilizations like Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Anatolia, and how they formed a unified system despite lacking a single ruler or language. The paragraph also highlights the role of trade, with examples of goods found across regions, and the impact of warfare and diplomacy on the relationships between these civilizations.

05:04
🏛️ The Collapse of the Bronze Age Civilizations

This section delves into the mysterious collapse of the Bronze Age civilizations around 1200 BCE, which affected the Mycenaeans, Minoans, and Hittites. It historically attributes this collapse to the invasion of the sea peoples, as described in Egyptian texts. However, it also presents alternative theories, including natural disasters like earthquakes, environmental changes such as drought, and social upheavals like peasant revolts and trade disruptions. The paragraph questions the traditional narrative and suggests that the complexity of the civilization might have contributed to its instability.

10:05
🌐 Drawing Parallels: The Ancient and Modern Globalized Civilizations

The final paragraph draws parallels between the ancient Near East civilization and today's interconnected globalized system. It discusses the potential vulnerability of complex, interdependent systems to disruptions in any part of the network. The paragraph also reflects on the importance of understanding historical events in their own context, while being cautious about applying present-day perspectives to the past. It concludes by suggesting that the causes of the Bronze Age collapse remain uncertain, but the study of such events can offer insights into the potential fragility of our own civilization.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Y2K
Y2K, also known as the Year 2000 problem, was a widespread concern that computer systems would fail when the calendar rolled over from December 31, 1999, to January 1, 2000, due to the way dates were stored in two digits. In the context of the video, John Green humorously mentions it as a past example of people fearing the end of civilization, contrasting it with the historical topic of the actual end of a civilization being discussed.
💡Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a historical period characterized by the use of bronze, a metal alloy made up of copper and tin, and the development of complex societies. It is the focus of the video, discussing the end of a civilization during this era in the ancient Near East. The Bronze Age civilizations were interconnected through trade, diplomacy, and warfare, forming a complex system that ultimately faced collapse.
💡Underwater Archaeologists
Underwater archaeologists are experts in the field of archaeology who specialize in the excavation of underwater sites, such as shipwrecks and submerged settlements. They play a crucial role in uncovering historical trade routes and cultural exchanges that took place in ancient times. In the video, John Green humorously questions the existence of underwater archaeologists, highlighting the fascinating and lesser-known aspects of archaeological research.
💡Hittites
The Hittites were an ancient civilization that originated in Anatolia and expanded to include parts of Mesopotamia. They were a significant power during the late Bronze Age and are mentioned in the video as a part of the interconnected system of civilizations. The Hittites are also noted for their potential involvement in a pre-Homeric Trojan War.
💡Sea Peoples
The Sea Peoples were a group of maritime invaders who are believed to have contributed to the collapse of several civilizations around 1200 BCE. Their identity and origin remain uncertain, but their description in ancient Egyptian texts suggests they were a confederation of various groups. The video discusses the theory that the Sea Peoples may have been responsible for the destruction of cities and the subsequent collapse of the Bronze Age civilization.
💡Earthquake Storms
Earthquake storms refer to a series of large earthquakes occurring along the same fault line over an extended period, causing widespread destruction. In the video, John Green discusses the theory that an earthquake storm in the eastern Mediterranean around 1200 BCE could have destabilized the region, contributing to the collapse of the Bronze Age civilization.
💡Globalization
Globalization is the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on a global scale. In the context of the video, it is used to draw a parallel between the interconnected trade and diplomacy of the late Bronze Age civilization and the modern globalized world system. The video suggests that the very interconnectedness of the Bronze Age civilization may have made it vulnerable to collapse.
💡Diplomacy
Diplomacy refers to the practice of conducting negotiations, managing relationships between states, and maintaining international peace and relations. In the video, diplomacy is highlighted as a key aspect of the Bronze Age civilization, where rival communities would often establish familial relationships and engage in diplomatic marriages to foster peace and trade.
💡Trade Network
A trade network is a system of economic connections between different regions or societies for the exchange of goods and services. In the video, the trade network is central to the discussion of the Bronze Age civilization, where goods manufactured in one region could be found in another, indicating a high degree of interconnectedness.
💡Cultural Traditions
Cultural traditions are the customs, beliefs, and practices that are passed down through generations within a society or civilization. In the video, cultural traditions are part of what defines a civilization, such as the shared structures, religious beliefs, and practices that form the basis of Western civilization or Islamic civilization.
💡Assassination of an Archduke
The assassination of an archduke refers to the historical event in 1914 where Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was killed, which served as a catalyst for the outbreak of World War I. In the video, this event is used as an example to illustrate how seemingly isolated incidents can have far-reaching consequences and disrupt the global order, similar to the potential impact of the collapse of the Bronze Age civilization on its era's interconnected world.
Highlights

The discussion revolves around the end of civilization, specifically focusing on the ancient Near East at the end of the Bronze Age, rather than the Y2K scare.

The video challenges the common perception of civilizations as separate entities, suggesting that in the Bronze Age, the eastern Mediterranean was a unified system.

Trade was a key feature of this ancient civilization, with goods from Crete found in Egypt and Pharaohs' names in Cretan hieroglyphics.

Underwater archaeologists have discovered a shipwreck with products from at least seven different states, showcasing the extensive trade network of the time.

The Hittites played a significant role in the Bronze Age trade network, ruling an empire that included parts of Mesopotamia and possibly engaging in a pre-Homeric Trojan War.

Warfare was common between empires like the Egyptians, Hittites, and Assyrians, driven by the desire for power and economic growth through conquest.

Diplomacy and familial relationships, both real and imagined, existed among rival communities, leading to diplomatic marriages and periods of peace and trade.

The collapse of the Bronze Age civilization is a historical mystery, with cities suffering upheaval, disruption, and destruction around 1200 BCE.

The traditional explanation for the collapse was invasions by the mysterious sea peoples, as described in Egyptian records.

The idea of the sea peoples' invasion has been questioned, with evidence of earthquakes, known as 'earthquake storms', occurring in the region during that time.

Environmental factors, such as a drier climate and famine, as well as peasant uprisings and trade disruptions, are also considered as potential causes for the collapse.

A modern theory suggests that the rise of private traders disrupted the palace-based trading system, but this theory has its critics.

The interconnectedness of the late Bronze Age civilization may have made it vulnerable to systemic collapse, much like modern globalized systems.

The story of the Bronze Age civilization's collapse serves as a reminder of the complexity of historical events and the dangers of oversimplifying causes.

The video emphasizes the importance of understanding the past in its own context, rather than viewing it solely through the lens of the present.

The video concludes by encouraging viewers to consider the lessons of the past and their relevance to our current interconnected world.

Transcripts

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AncientHistoryBronzeAgeCivilizationCollapseTradeNetworksMycenaeansHittitesSeaPeoplesEarthquakeStormsGlobalizationHistoricalMystery