I am not a historian, and really dont know much about the Bronze Age. I do know that this period comes up a lot in Ancient Astronaut theories. But I dont follow those theories much either, just seen a few episodes of Ancient Astronauts and some related Why Files episodes.

Im wondering if anybody here has a strong understanding of this time period and this collapse and can say with some authority whether Karl Nell is just using this collapse as a case study that such a catastrophe is possible even for a civilization as relatively large like ours, or is he possibly giving us breadcrumbs for an alternate history to dig up?

He does mention Eric Cline and his book “1177 B.C. The year Civilization Collapsed” in both talks. As far as I can tell this book is about conventional reasons for the collapse…. But my thoughts around mainstream understandings of history and this subject is that there is the mainstream history in all of our textbooks that represent mostly the truth, but I many many events could have a deeper layer that involves our favorite phenomenon.

I am probably reading into it too much, but Ive seen people pick apart everything else Nell has said in his 2 short talks, but as far as I’m aware this particular portion hasn’t been deeply discussed here.

Here are the parts of his talks where this comes up:

SOL: https://youtu.be/-1QCFtod6i8?si=i8C25EphAssjroaY&t=1532

iSALT: https://youtu.be/k9irNlxBF8E?si=Tt9yaUQoUSfhd98k&t=651

I asked ChatGPT about mainstream theories vs alternative phenomenon related theories and this is what it said:

Mainstream Theories on the Bronze Age Collapse

Invasion Theories Sea Peoples: The invasion by the Sea Peoples is a widely supported theory. These groups are believed to have attacked and caused the fall of several key civilizations, including the Hittites and the Mycenaeans, as well as wreaking havoc in Egypt. Natural Disasters Earthquakes: There is evidence of widespread seismic activity during this period. Major earthquakes could have caused the destruction of cities, weakened infrastructure, and led to social and economic instability. Droughts and Climate Change: Paleoclimatic data from tree rings, ice cores, and sediment layers suggest a period of severe drought around 1177 BC. This would have led to crop failures, famine, and mass migrations, contributing to the destabilization of societies. Internal Revolts Economic inequality and social strife may have led to internal revolts. With resources scarce due to droughts or disrupted trade, populations might have risen against ruling elites, leading to political and social upheaval. Economic Factors Trade Disruption: The Late Bronze Age was characterized by an extensive trade network linking the Eastern Mediterranean with Near Eastern and Aegean civilizations. Disruptions to these networks, possibly caused by piracy or warfare, would have had significant economic repercussions, leading to societal collapse. Systemic Collapse The interconnectedness of these civilizations meant that the collapse of one major power could have a cascading effect, leading to a systemic failure. This interconnected collapse could be due to a combination of invasions, natural disasters, and economic disruptions. Environmental Factors Volcanic Eruptions: Although less directly supported, volcanic activity could have contributed to climate changes or even caused direct destruction through ash fall and related phenomena. Technological and Military Changes The transition from bronze to iron weapons could have shifted military power balances. Societies unable to adapt quickly to these technological changes might have been at a disadvantage, leading to their decline.

Alternate (Fringe) Theories on the Bronze Age Collapse

Ancient Astronaut Theory Erich von Däniken: Proposes that extraterrestrial beings visited ancient civilizations and influenced their development. Some fringe theorists might suggest that these beings could have had a hand in the events leading to the Bronze Age Collapse, though there is no direct evidence for this. Zecharia Sitchin’s Anunnaki Theory Suggests that ancient Sumerian texts describe extraterrestrial beings (the Anunnaki) who were involved in human affairs. While Sitchin’s work focuses more on earlier periods, some proponents might extend this influence to explain disruptions during the Bronze Age Collapse. UFO Sightings in Ancient Texts Fringe theorists sometimes interpret descriptions of unusual celestial phenomena in ancient texts as evidence of UFO sightings. They may argue that such encounters could have influenced human events, including the collapse of Bronze Age societies.

Scholarly Consensus

The collapse of Bronze Age societies around 1177 BC is attributed to a combination of invasions by the Sea Peoples, natural disasters such as earthquakes and droughts, internal social and economic upheaval, and the interconnected nature of these civilizations leading to a systemic collapse. These mainstream theories are supported by archaeological evidence, historical records, and paleoclimatic data.

Alternate theories involving UFOs or non-human intelligence remain speculative and are not supported by empirical evidence or mainstream scholarship. The primary focus in academic discussions remains on terrestrial explanations that are substantiated by the available evidence.