1177 B.C.

The Year Civilization Collapsed

By: Eric H. Cline

Narrated by: Andy Caploe

Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

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 civilizations. After centuries of brilliance, the civilized 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 civilizations, he draws a sweeping panorama of the empires and globalized 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 civilizations of the Late Bronze Age - and that set the stage for the emergence of classical Greece.

©2014 Eric H. Cline. Published by Princeton University Press. (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Interesting but tedious

It's a fascinating story and theory for anyone interested in the Bronze Age civilizations and their demise. However, I'd have been happy to read a long article on the subject, rather than get bogged down in the micro-specifics of who traded what with whom and under what ruler. In short, a little TMI, most of which I've already forgotten.

Educational

Overall worth the time, however, I found the content difficult to absorb as presented. I found the reader very good and by his presentation kept me interested. I am not sure if it is possible to have written this book any differently. It is, after all, a history book, of a time, place and names greatly neglected within my realm of interests. As I explore this period of time, I believe that coming back to this book will be every enjoyable. Therefor my difficulty lays more with my ignorance of the time.

What I found most interesting is the coco formation to my long held theory that "there is nothing new under the sun". With a few name changes headlines of the daily news would read the same, in all likelihood to long before written history of civilization.

Tough going

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If they were a serious hard core ancient history fan I would.

Would you be willing to try another book from Eric H. Cline? Why or why not?

Maybe, but this was a bit too hard going for me. I'm glad I read it but I wasn't as entertained as I'd hoped I'd be.

What about Andy Caploe’s performance did you like?

Good. I liked his style.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Nope. it messes with your head. You need to do it in chunks

Not as compelling as the title

Though a history buff, I found it to often be too detailed. The attempts at added humor also fell short.

MORE OF A LECTURE FOR ARCHEOLOGISTS

What I liked about this Audible presentation was the presentation of different thoughts on who were the Sea Peoples and why 1177 BC was a pivotal point in history. But it's constant references to Dr. So and So archeology professor at the University of So and So became tedious. Interesting highlights of archeological discoveries. But the whole book came off as a lecture given to a convention of archeologists. The narration was OK, but generic and lacked emotion.

Transformation

Very illuminating putting into context the many peoples,and nation states, in actual existence with knowledge off also trading as well as communication with others in what has to be considered really far flung geographical areas

Great listen.

written like a scholarly work.
easy listening with all facts given and let's you come to your own conclusions.

Historical and Cautionary Tale

Eric Cline weaves together historical fact and founded hypothesis to create the story of what was in a year most of us probably don't consider as an important year. 1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed is both historical and a cautionary tale for what lays immediate before us: an interconnected world, overstretched militarily and environmentally, teetering between abundance and complete chaos. The people of ages past come to life from their letters, their desires written plainly on tablets for more grain, more wealth, more men, while the layers of ancient cities reveal both environmental destruction and invasion. This historical work has a little bit of everything including mysterious invaders, refugees, kingdoms lost to intrigue, and wealth lost to storms on the sea.

The story stretches across the Mediterranean that we know today and reveals perhaps more about where we are now than one might guess being more than three thousand years in the past.

Too little narrative, too technical

I am really into history and had listened to several Dan Carlin hardcore history podcasts about this time period and so was excited to read it! However, the book gets really into the weeds with archaeological jargon that I frequently lost sight of what the author was getting at.

5 out of 5

It gives a very detailed vision, with different points of view on a very complex issue. I totally recommend.