---
title: Map of the Late Bronze Age Collapse c. 1200 - 1150 BCE
author: Simeon Netchev
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15310/map-of-the-late-bronze-age-collapse-c-1200---1150/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0)
updated: 2026-01-07
---

# Map of the Late Bronze Age Collapse c. 1200 - 1150 BCE

_Authored by [Simeon Netchev](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/simeonnetchev/)_

## Image File

[![Map of the Late Bronze Age Collapse c. 1200 - 1150 BCE](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/15310.png)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/15310.png)

## Image Caption

The Late [Bronze Age Collapse](https://www.worldhistory.org/Bronze_Age_Collapse/) (c. 1200–1150 BCE) marks a period of profound political and economic breakdown across the [Aegean](https://www.worldhistory.org/aegean/), Eastern [Mediterranean](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/mediterranean/), [Anatolia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Asia_Minor/), and [Mesopotamia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mesopotamia/). Highly interconnected [palace](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/palace/)-based societies, dependent on centralized administration, long-distance [trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/), and elite control, proved vulnerable when these systems faltered. The [Mycenaean](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mycenaean_Civilization/) palatial states disintegrated (c. 1200–1150 BCE), the [Hittite](https://www.worldhistory.org/hittite/) [Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/) collapsed with the abandonment or destruction of Hattusa (c. 1200 BCE), and [Kassite](https://www.worldhistory.org/kassite/) [Babylonia](https://www.worldhistory.org/babylon/) lost dynastic control following [Elamite](https://www.worldhistory.org/elam/) invasions (c. 1155 BCE). Even [New Kingdom](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/New_Kingdom/) [Egypt](https://www.worldhistory.org/egypt/) (c. 1550–1070 BCE), though it repelled major external threats under [Ramesses](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/ramesses/) III (reign c. 1186–1155 BCE), entered a period of internal crisis and imperial retrenchment.

Rather than a single cause, the collapse resulted from a convergence of long-term structural pressures. Paleoclimatic evidence points to prolonged aridification (c. 1250–1100 BCE), undermining agricultural surplus and state revenues. This environmental stress coincided with internal political instability, disruption of interregional trade networks (notably in [copper](https://www.worldhistory.org/copper/) and tin), and the weakening of redistributive palace economies. Within this context, population movements and maritime raids, traditionally grouped under the term [Sea Peoples](https://www.worldhistory.org/Sea_Peoples/), intensified instability across coastal regions (c. 1200–1175 BCE), contributing to the destruction of [cities](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) such as [Ugarit](https://www.worldhistory.org/ugarit/) (c. 1190 BCE). The collapse did not signal civilizational extinction but rather a transition: centralized [Bronze Age](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Bronze_Age/) systems gave way to more localized [Iron Age](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Iron_Age/) societies, reshaping the political and cultural landscape of the ancient world.

#### Editorial Review

This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).

## About the Author

Simeon is a freelance visual designer and history educator, passionate about the human stories that shape the past.
- [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/simeon-netchev/)

## Cite This Work

### APA
Netchev, S. (2022, March 01). Map of the Late Bronze Age Collapse c. 1200 - 1150 BCE. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15310/map-of-the-late-bronze-age-collapse-c-1200---1150/>
### Chicago
Netchev, Simeon. "Map of the Late Bronze Age Collapse c. 1200 - 1150 BCE." *World History Encyclopedia*, March 01, 2022. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15310/map-of-the-late-bronze-age-collapse-c-1200---1150/>.
### MLA
Netchev, Simeon. "Map of the Late Bronze Age Collapse c. 1200 - 1150 BCE." *World History Encyclopedia*, 01 Mar 2022, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/15310/map-of-the-late-bronze-age-collapse-c-1200---1150/>.

## License & Copyright

Submitted by [Simeon Netchev](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/simeonnetchev/ "User Page: Simeon Netchev"), published on 01 March 2022. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0deed.en). This licence only allows others to download this content and share it with others as long as the author is credited, but they can't change the content in any way or use it commercially. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.