Drift off to one of the ancient world's greatest mysteries. Around 1200 BC, nearly every major Bronze Age civilization collapsed within a few decades — the Mycenaean Greeks, the Hittites, the Ugarit city-state, Canaan, Cyprus, and Egypt all fell or were severely weakened. What caused it?

Covered: The Bronze Age Mediterranean world, the Late Bronze Age palatial societies, the Sea Peoples, evidence for drought and climate change, earthquakes, internal rebellions, the disruption of trade networks, and which civilizations survived. Also: why the Bronze Age Collapse is becoming more relevant in modern discussions about civilizational fragility.

✦ 2-hour deep dive ✦ Calm narration ✦ Ancient history for sleep

Sleepless History is an educational sleep podcast covering ancient civilizations, world history, and historical mysteries — made to help you fall asleep.