1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed: Revised and UpdatedA bold reassessment of what caused the Late Bronze Age collapse 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 weakened Egypt so much 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