Collapse of the Bronze Age: The Story of Greece, Troy, Israel, Egypt, and the Peoples of the Sea

Author - Manuel Robbins ... [Goo?] [Posters]

This Paperback Book item from AuthorHouse was reviewed on 24-Oct-2008.

Search ISBN:0595136648 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. Collapse of the Bronze Age: The Story of Greece, Troy, Israel, Egypt, and the Peoples of the Sea Reference Book. Classifications : General Egypt Africa History Subjects Books General AAS Egypt Africa History Subjects Books Greece Ancient History Subjects Books General Ancient History Subjects Books General AAS Ancient History Sub . Click the following link to view the cover of Collapse of the Bronze Age: The Story of Greece, Troy, Israel, Egypt, and the Peoples of the Sea.

Related topics: General. Egypt. Africa. History. Subjects. Books. General AAS. Egypt. Africa. History.

1) Paperback Book Collapse of the Bronze Age: The Story of Greece, Troy, Israel, Egypt, and the Peoples of the Sea by AuthorHouse. This book is only tangentially concerned with the Near East Bronze Age as it waxed and waned in the Fertile Crescent (Iraq, Jordan, Israel, and Egypt) as well as its cultural extensions into the Anatolian highlands and the Aegean Region (including Greece). And it is not focused on the "Collapse of the Bronze Age." As Robbins makes clear the Bronze Age of the Near East transitioned into the Iron Age imperceptibly and, to the people involved seamlessly. Rather the book has a number of interesting stories that are tied together only by location (the Eastern Mediterranean), time period (the transition from the Bronze to Iron Age), and the mysterious phenomenon of the Peoples of the Sea movement.

Robbins focuses particular attention to the dissolution or collapse of the proto-Greek Mycenaean Society and the Anatolian based Hittite Society. He uses both events to illustrate that the transition of the Bronze Age into the Iron Age was accompanied by a good deal of social disorder, movements of peoples, and collapse of empires. While archaeologists and historians are in general agreement that the ending of the Near Eastern Bronze Age was a time of social and political upheaval, they disagree about why this was so. In this book, Robbins comes down on the side of migration-invasion and disruptions by the so-called Peoples of the Sea. He does also note however that natural disasters clearly could have had a role as well, particularly in Greece. He also discusses the destruction of the seldom mentioned advanced civilization of Cyprus which occurred during this same period. And, in a rather long aside, he also discusses the origins of the Jews and the occupation of Canaan by the tribes of Israel. Presumably because this also occurred around the end of the Bronze Age and the Israelites also had to cope with the Peoples of the Sea.

This book has some good tales to tell, but appears to lack focus. It is filled with digressions and expositions on matters not directly related to the social collapses of the late Bronze Age. On the other hand Robbins brushes over relevant information such as the Island of Crete where the Bronze Age began for the Aegean region and whose civilization defused to mainland Mycenae. And Cretan society also was disrupted at the end of the Bronze Age. Yet his only concern with Crete has to do with origins of the Peoples of the Sea. He also ignores the Mycenaean Linear A and B scripts which tell a good deal about these proto-Greeks and their way of life. In short this is an interesting book that could have been much better.
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2) Paperback Book Collapse of the Bronze Age: The Story of Greece, Troy, Israel, Egypt, and the Peoples of the Sea by AuthorHouse. This could have been written better. Too much redundancy to make for an enjoyable read and it draws conclusions rather weakly. Its section on Israel relies far too much on biblical historic inaccuracies to prove some points - very biased, even although he lists more modern archaeological writings in the bibliography. This book is probably not worth the price which is a shame, as such a broad review would have had value.¤

3) Paperback Book Collapse of the Bronze Age: The Story of Greece, Troy, Israel, Egypt, and the Peoples of the Sea by AuthorHouse. Fairly well written book that attempts to cover a wide array of events, places, and peoples. It is not quite as detailed as I would like, but it is a good book for the reader who desires a fairly detailed general description of the Bronze Age collapse. The author gives different theories and their strengths and weaknesses, and he admitts that there is still too little evidence to fully support any one theory.¤

4) Paperback Book Collapse of the Bronze Age: The Story of Greece, Troy, Israel, Egypt, and the Peoples of the Sea by AuthorHouse. I used this book as a reference-companion while reading S. M. Stirling´s "Islands in the Sea of Time" alternate history trilogy. After I started reading the series, I found I did not know as much about the late bronze age as I thought I did. I don´t suppose that should have been a big surprise, but it was. A friend loaned me his copy of "Collapse of the Bronze Age"; it made all the difference. Granted, Stirling´s fictional account (of modern-day Natucket, plus some Coast Guard ships, being snatched back to approx. 1200 BC) soon diverted from "known" history (by the actions of his characters), but I found I was still in need of a guide. Stirling uses many historical personages and locations in the novels, often referring to them by names only scholars would know and not those we all learned in high school. I´m sure Robbins´ book stands well on its own. I just thought some of you might like to know one of its other uses.¤

5) Paperback Book Collapse of the Bronze Age: The Story of Greece, Troy, Israel, Egypt, and the Peoples of the Sea by AuthorHouse. When I first got this I thought it looked like an overgrown class handout. Production values look like a good quality xerox copy self-published. The content is wonderful, however. This book is a great introduction. It´s a very readable, accessible, narration of attempts to piece together the mystery of a fascinating period. Coverage spans the Mediterranean with focus on Hittite, Mycenaen, Minoan, Cannanite, Assyrian, and Egyptian cultures. The end of the Bronze Age covers a period where the the whole balance of world power shifts and a major ancient powers (the Hittites, and Mycenaen Greek) disappear completely and others, such as Egypt and the Assyrians suddenly contract and lose power. This the time period where the Jews rise to power in Palestine. It is a fascinating period, a link between the roots of civilization and the classical world. There´s little hype - Robbins takes us back to the evidence at every turn. What unfolds is the mystery and drama of archeology in action. Not only does this give a good introduction to late bronze-age world, but it gives a great insight in the operation of archeology itself.¤

6) Paperback Book Collapse of the Bronze Age: The Story of Greece, Troy, Israel, Egypt, and the Peoples of the Sea by AuthorHouse.

His Majesty being powerful, his heart stout, none could stand before him.. All his territory was ablaze with fire, and he burned every foriegn country with his hot breath. Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II.

The bowmen of His Majesty spent six hours of destruction among them. They were delivered to the sword. Egyptian Pharaoh Merneptah.

May my father know the enemy ships came. My cities were burned and evil things were done in my country. King of the city of Ugarit to the king of Cyprus.

Since there is famine in your house we will starve to death...The living soul of your country you will see no longer. To a Hittite offical stationed in Ugarit.

Israel is laid waste, his seed is not. Pharaoh Merneptah.

Pharaoh´s chariots and his army He cast into the Sea...Book of Exodus.

Egypt was adrift and every man was thrown out of his right. There was no leader for years..Pharaoh Ramesses IV.

As they (the Sea Peoples) were coming forward toward Egypt, their hearts relying upon their hands, a net was prepared for them....My strong arm has overthrown those who came to exalt themselves. Pharaoh Ramesses III.

[of the Greeks These were destroyed by their own hands and passed to the dank house of chill Hades. Greek writer Hesiod.

Returning to Luxor, Egypt, by Nile ship. The author has visited many of the significant archaeological sites mentioned in this book.

Front cover, top, Troy VI by Lloyd K. Townsend, bottom, Pharaoh Thotmose IV.

Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 21-Nov-2008, 05951366489780595136643, 490-480-160-341-2X1-791-8

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