# Were the Sea Peoples a cause of the collapse or a consequence of it? · Late Bronze Age collapse > Four answers have been proposed. Populations displaced by famine and the failure of their own states, moving with their families. leads, with evidence 2… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464NGG66KP/were-the-sea-peoples-a-cause-of-the-collapse-or-a Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:56:58+00:00 --- **0** # Were the Sea Peoples a cause of the collapse or a consequence of it? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: populations displaced by famine and the failure of their own states, moving with their families** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. Populations displaced by famine and the failure of their own states, moving with their families. leads, with evidence 2 for: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters They are the only actors the contemporary texts name⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464CZ23GSB/historical-records-of-ramses-iii-the-texts-in-medinet-habu), and ancient DNA now shows that some people moved⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464CQ822HT/ancient-dna-sheds-light-on-the-genetic-origins-of-early-iron). Whether they moved because the system had already failed is the question. ## Answers 4 [**Populations displaced by famine and the failure of their own states, moving with their families.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/answers/ANS0D464ZGT4G84/populations-displaced-by-famine-and-the-failure-of-their-own) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**Raiders of limited reach, magnified by Egyptian royal propaganda.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/answers/ANS0D4650886JH4/raiders-of-limited-reach-magnified-by-egyptian-royal) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/answers/ANS0D4650QW0H5G/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**Organised invaders who destroyed functioning states.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/answers/ANS0D464Z163AB0/organised-invaders-who-destroyed-functioning-states) Tested, but the results don't decide it Evidence: 1 for Disputed ## History 1. 1936[Edgerton & Wilson puts forward: organised invaders who destroyed functioning states.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464CZ23GSB/historical-records-of-ramses-iii-the-texts-in-medinet-habu) 1. 1936[Edgerton & Wilson: the Year 8 inscription describes a confederation that overran Hatti, Cyprus and Syria before reaching Egypt.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464CZ23GSB/historical-records-of-ramses-iii-the-texts-in-medinet-habu)For: Organised invaders who destroyed functioning states. 1. 2013[Kaniewski et al. puts forward: populations displaced by famine and the failure of their own states, moving with their families.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4649SG2EN1/environmental-roots-of-the-late-bronze-age-crisis) 1. 2013[Kaniewski et al.: in Cyprus and Syria, climate-driven famine and the invasions are linked in one radiocarbon chronology.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4649SG2EN1/environmental-roots-of-the-late-bronze-age-crisis)For: Populations displaced by famine and the failure of their own states, moving with their families. 1. 2016[Knapp & Manning puts forward: raiders of limited reach, magnified by Egyptian royal propaganda.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464BZT04YP/crisis-in-context-the-end-of-the-late-bronze-age-in-the) 1. 2016[Knapp & Manning: royal inscriptions are victory texts; the material evidence for the protagonists is ambiguous.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464BZT04YP/crisis-in-context-the-end-of-the-late-bronze-age-in-the)For: Raiders of limited reach, magnified by Egyptian royal propaganda. 1. 2019[Feldman et al.: european-related ancestry appears at Ashkelon in the early Iron Age and is diluted later, implying settlement…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464CQ822HT/ancient-dna-sheds-light-on-the-genetic-origins-of-early-iron)For: Populations displaced by famine and the failure of their own states, moving with their families. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464NGG66KP/were-the-sea-peoples-a-cause-of-the-collapse-or-a%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464NGG66KP/were-the-sea-peoples-a-cause-of-the-collapse-or-a%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464NGG66KP/were-the-sea-peoples-a-cause-of-the-collapse-or-a%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464NGG66KP/were-the-sea-peoples-a-cause-of-the-collapse-or-a%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464NGG66KP/were-the-sea-peoples-a-cause-of-the-collapse-or-a%23add-source) Where it fits Late Bronze Age collapse **Were the Sea Peoples a cause of the collapse or a consequence of it?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]