The Bronze Age Collapse - Before the Storm - Extra History - Part 1 

The four Bronze Age civilizations lived together in (relative) harmony... until the Sea People attacked. Support us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/ExtraCredits

You know this had me wondering. Why not brass? It's as strong as bronze, and is made with the much more common element zinc. As someone who enjoys learning about metallurgy I had to look it up. Apparently the ancients were well aware of zinc, but it was a huge hassle to refine from ore. The problem being that just smelting it with charcoal, zinc boils and evaporates at a lower temperature than it would reduce from zinc oxide. Brass had to be produced in small amounts in a crucible by allowing copper to absorb zinc vapor. As such brass was really only used for decoration, as it was too much work for bronze age technology to produce in useful quantities. Refining pure zinc didn't become possible until the 18th century. So there's why we didn't have a brass age.

In case anybody's been living under a rock, this is the series that almost all of the EH following has been waiting for since it was introduced to the schedule a half a year ago. * bows down at the feet of whoever suggested the topic in the first place

More than just these cultures were affected by a collapse around this same time. This was also the end of the Harappa civilization in Pakistan, China was invaded by barbarians, north and central American building cultures suffered during this period. Something big was going on. It could very well have been climate related, something that made it difficult for non-agricultural people to maintain their livelihoods and compelled them to move in and attack wealthier agricultural civilizations. The Odyssey took place during this time (just after the Trojan war which was just before the collapse), and it's a story of a man making an enemy of Poseidon, and fighting his way through treacherous seas and winds (and weird islands) for twenty years. It could very well have been a climatic event, like a volcanic eruption that changed global temperatures and weather patterns for a while (at least in the northern hemisphere). There was at least one in the world somewhere around that time, the Hekla eruption in Iceland, which has been considered as a candidate for a cause or contributing factor to this collapse. Personally, what I find most interesting about this whole period is how much Greece changed, from the Achaean/Mycenaean civilization to the "Classical" Greek civilization after the intervening "Greek Dark Ages". Their art style completely changed, especially the depiction of people which were originally a bit cartoonish in a Sumerian/Babylonian way, their writing changed from the Linear B Minoan system of writing to their version of the Phoenician alphabet. They just became such a fundamentally different people... while still maintaining some language and cultural elements from the past. There's a major hypothesis about the later Greeks being northern invaders who then settled among the previous Greeks, something that also happened to some of the other places (the Harappa civilization was displaced by the arrival of the Vedic peoples, for example). It makes me wonder who they were before. As far as I know the only surviving stories of their culture are the Iliad and the Odyssey, both written centuries later, in the Archaic period and most of the other parts of it were lost. Even from the Archaic period, only some of Homer's works and a few of Sappho's poems survived - considered the father and mother of literature (to the Greeks, and later to the Romans).

So you mean to say that we live in a post-apocalyptic world, and that the cause and details of the disaster are conveniently unknown? I will now no longer criticize authors that lazily evade the nature of their apocalypse.

*Now the Phoenicians can get down to business!*

5:53 - It would appear that you folks have made an error in your placement of the Assyrian Empire, putting it WAAAAY east of its position along the northern Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It's a minor error, I know, but I'm aware that you all want to be kept updated on any mistakes made.

Fun fact: the name of copper and it's chemical symbol both come from Cyprus. In ancient times, copper was called Cyprium, which was bastardized by the Romans to Cuprum, (which is why copper is CU), which eventually became Copper

holy crap, finally something on youtube about ancient history that isn't just conspiracy theories, it's frustratingly difficult to find actual facts on anything from before the classical period that isn't just straight up academic (that is, things that aren't just straight up journal articles published by universities)

I suddenly, but quite explicably want to go back and play the original Age of Empires again...

Egyptians. Hittites. Assyrians. Myceneans. Long ago, these four Bronze Age civilizations lived together in a healthy system of trade, agriculture, and sometimes warfare. But then, everything changed when the Sea People attacked.

Its tin from the tin lands (My seller wont tell me where)

As a french history teacher I found this very instructive as we barely never talk about what was before Archaïc greece. Thanks!

Probably the 50 population limit

All i can think about the Assyrians is how they appear in the fight with the most overpowered tool in the late bronze age. Iron.

It all collapsed because of Ea Nasir's inferior copper ingots.

Indus Valley: "Notice me. I fell too!"

Nah tin comes from the faraway lands of Tinland(?)

Four civilizations lived in peace, until the Fire Nation attacked.

There you are, playing warships in your simulator, and all of the sudden, you're a Sea People.

0:18 Ah yes, the famous and mysterious history of the Bronce Age

I don't really comment on RU-vid all that often, but I just wanted to thank you guys for all of the extra history videos

I'm betting money on that it was cause by Walpole.

Thumbnail looking like they put the new forgis on the jeep

Top 10 The Bronze Jade

This is sort of like a big game of Civilization. When you introduced the players, it felt like a leader description. Is it just me?

I'm so happy this is covered. ive been interested in this since I studied Crete and was fascinated by the near total depopulation of the coastal regions and the near fortified cities in the mountains, also I really hope you mention how the Greeks literally forget how to read for about 4 centuries. that still boggles me.

People who think Egypt is a lifeless desert are in denial of de Nile... I'll see myself out.

The thumbnail aged well

I really love the drawn "horses", it makes me giggle every time because they look more like lamma/alpacca than horses...Imagine ancient egypts, preparing their chariots with lammas

EC> history channel

Fantastic series! I wish we knew and had more from these great civilizations!

This was probably one of the most interesting podcasts/animated series that I never thought I needed to hear. Bravo!

Dark Souls reference in a history episode. This is why I am subscribed to this channel.

Thank you bronze age memes for bringing me here

Love your channel!! Subbed and Binge watching!!

None of the players noticed their empires were unhappy, so a load of barbarians spawned and burned down all the civilizations. Mystery solved.

How to sum it up: Well there's the Bronze age colapse.... *NOW THE PHOENICIANS CAN GET DOWN TO BUSINESS!* •doing Trade •Being cool •Inventing The Alphabet i guess

I am hooked on your Series. I had saw them for months, but didn't think much to look. One day I saw a series you had that might interest me. I watched all 4 parts and got HOOKED! Keep making them!

Been watching and listening to your channel for about a year now. Love the channel. Love the story-telling narration. You guys are one of very very very few other channels I'm willing to watch ads for.

Spoiler alert: It was Walpole

YES!!!!!!!!! Finally, a RU-vid video on the Bronze Age Collapse that isn't a documentary from the 90's or a lecture from a history professor. I love this. Thank you for doing a series on this turning point in Human history.

This would be a great setting for a total war game

For some reason I have a plethora of videos on the Bronze Age Collapse in my feed lately. This is one of the most understandable of them, and I appreciate that it's broken up into manageable chunks (as you are prone to do).

*sighs* Fine. *opens civ 5*

Walpole: Can I interest you in stock for the Sea Peoples Trading Company?

Oh gosh, when you learn more about history on a RU-vid channel in minimal time versus School. I'm grateful for this series!!

I gotta say, those first 15 seconds are among the best introductions ever to a historical piece. Have you guys ever considered writing actual history textbooks? The style in which you make these episodes would actually make them some of the least dry, easiest-to-learn-from history textbooks ever. Frankly, if I were ever stuck with being a History teacher, I'd assign the watching of some of these series as homework.

I love the sphinx with the classic EH face--- I'd like to see a Mona Lisa with the same derpy expression XD

Every time they make a dark Souls reference or something like that, I want them to do a lore video.

Maybe the bronze age is the friends we met all along

Thank you for your work!

7:07 Mycenaeans: The Ancap's Nightmare.

Well technically Egypt and the Assyrians managed to fight off the sea people but then Ramses died and Egypt collapsed with no one being able to rule.

The Mycenaeans conquered the Minoans of Crete, the Minoans were another great Bronze- Age civilisation, which you did not mention.

Thank you so much for this video

I blame the Jedi for this.

Dear Extra Credits team I see your transition from games to history, and I must say that I really like your content. You already have told almost all the things that can be said about gamedev, and it is okay. Sometimes the video about gaming appears, and this is cool. I love how you talk about history. When I watch them I feel as a part of this ever changing world... Keep up a good work!

Love the art work, as well as the videos. I'm just really liking the art. :D

This is excellent stuff, thanks!

I love how scarce the information about the Brozen Age is, it makes things mysterious and interesting.

Sea people did it before Vikings made it look cool.

This really brought the chapter in my history book to life, thanks!

I never even knew about these events or this period (not the bronze age itself, just the sudden fall), before this. Man I love this series.

kingdom of dank kush

Your channel is getting more and more amazing every time! Thank you for your work -- eternally!

Those notes from Actraiser in the intro got me. Amazing channel!

hay im just finding you now and i have to say i love your stuff its engaging and verry insiteful i realy enjoy lestening to all of your content so thanks

The Reaper invasion couldn't be stopped. Bronze Age didn't have Sheperd...

Best. Topic. Ever.

By far my favorite Extra series

I’m Assyrian and I’m sad that there’s only 3 million of us left in the world :(

Total War: Bronze Age/Trojan War. Come on, Sega! You owe us after Rome 2!

long ago the four nations lived together in harmony but this all changed when the Assyrians attacked...

Thank you Dan Shive for sending me to Extra Credits! I love these guys! 💕

Subscribed!

This is the best video this channel has ever made.

Now the Phoenicians can get down to business.

It's crazy how entire civilizations can be swept away soquicly...

Fun geology fact - the reason Cyprus has copper mines (which are still active today) is that the volcanic activity in the Mediterranean brings molten metals from the earth's mantle up to the surface.

Very interesting topic, thanks EC team. For anyone looking for more info about it the Eric Cline's "1177 BC" talk is a great and accessible summary of the likely causes of the Bronze Age collapse.

woooo goddamn ive been so excited for this!!!!!

I like how you have the town music from Act Raiser for your intro

This is my favourite Extra history series.

If only this series appeared 6 months prior, I wouldve gotten a perfect on my Civ 12 course, though I did get an A regardless. I just love Extra history and wouldn't have passed Civ without using it as a support. Props to the team!

Hey there EC, I love your history vids, but I wanna correct one little thing: The Myceneans and the Minoans were two different civilizations, you presented them as one greek culture in your video which is not unexpected since for most of history greece had only one mayor culture, and the myceneans and minoans are alike. But here is the difference: Myceneans lived mainly on the mainland of Greece and western Anatolia, one of the largest Mycenean cities is Mycene, Mycenean cities were often fortified and their art and hierarchy suggests that it was a warrior culture, meaning the Mycenean upper class was a warrior class and they often had conflicts and fights. The Minoans lived mainly in Crete and the surrounding Islands, one of their biggest palaces was at Knossos, they were a culture of seafarers and merchants, their art focuses on sea trade, the bull, and fishing, and their kings seemed not particularly aggressive or capable warriors. The reason I know this is because I wrote my final report on this last year. Hope this was useful!

Wow I love your channel ^-^

Damn this is an amazing video!!

this video series always makes me want to play some civilization

The Dark Souls reference in the beginning made me giddy. Dark Souls and history together, I couldn't be happier.

This is a fantastic channel.

OOOOOHHHH THis is GOING TO BE GOOODDD

No mention of the mysterious Sea People?

I love these!!!!

iltam zumra rasphuti ilatim

what made the bronze age collapse? here's my theory: it was walpole

so the Myceneans are basically the ancestors of The Ancient Greece? surely their architecture looked similar...

Cool videos, nicely animated.

I love that you used the ActRaiser theme. I loved that little angel sim-city game.

But do you know what I like a lot more than bronze crafted weaponry? *K N O W L E D G E*