Book Discussion - 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed

For this meeting, we’ll be discussing 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed by Eric H. Cline.

Length: 264 pages | 8h (audiobook)

Book Description

Eric H. Cline's 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed details the sudden downfall of the interconnected Late Bronze Age empires across the Eastern Mediterranean. Rather than attributing this decline to a single catastrophe or invading force, Cline presents a "perfect storm" theory driven by climate change, megadroughts, severe earthquakes, internal rebellions, and disrupted trade routes. By analyzing ancient texts and archaeological evidence, the book demonstrates how early global interdependence turned localized crises into a widespread systemic failure that ushered in a centuries-long dark age.