CONNECTIONS

Something dramatic happened in the Easter-Mediterranean Bronze-Age between 1300 and 1200 BC. In that periode empires got established. On Crete, the Minoan-culture flourished. These were mainly traders and played an important role in connecting the main powers in the area. One of them was Egypt, which was on the height of their culture, having been reigned for more than half a century by Ramses, the Great. The Holy Land was struck by draught and the Isrealites have sought asylum in Egypt.

The Hettites lived in Turkey and fought wars with Egypt. They, the royal family, were once asked by Tut's widow, if they could provide her with a husband of royal blood. Her plans did not work and the dynasty of Tut-ankh-Amon come to an end.On mainland Greece, the city of Mycene was the main power. Some mythical stories, suggest that they were dominated by the Minoans (Theseus and Ariadne).

In a period of less than a hundred years Egypt is struck by plagues and the Exodus of the Jews take place. The Royal Palace of the Hittite-kings is burned to the grounnd and its culture vanishes. The city of Troy is hit by an earthquake that destroys its huge walls and towers..

Troy is attacked and invaders loots this beautiful city before they sat fire to the place.

Bronze-Age settlements, except Mycene, disappear in a violent way on mainland Crete, as do Minoan-settlements like Knossos on Crete. Greece is invaded and ethnically cleansed as is Crete. Egypt is invaded by the so-called “Sea-people” and their allies. Egypt shakes and is ready to fall.

All through the Mediterranean people, communities and tribes are on the move and plunder, conquer and settle like Vikings.

All this turmoil and reshuffeling of the area is caused by one, datable fact. The eruption and explosion of Thera's volcano near Crete. This natural disaster took place around the mid-second millenium BCE. The eruption was one of the largest events on Earth since recorded history until now. The effects were catastrophic. Tsunami hit the island and the coastal areas. The survivors inhabited a wasteland of ash and ruins. They will starve to death. Agriculture will be minimal and this would last for years. Earthquakes preceding the eruption and ashes hiding the sun. Temperature plummits and water are poisoned.

Ships at sea will possibly survive and play an important role in the survival-raids of groups and tribes. The Mediterranean area is flooded by invaders that deal a final blow to the powers to be. Except Egypt, that defeated the Sea-people that tried to overrun them. Egypt won the final battle but lost her former splendour.

“Why I tell you this.” the Master said to the group of students around him. “A volcanic eruption of that order is, so geologists say, quite possible. There are more than 25 supervolcanous on the planet. Most are dormant but some are quite active like Yellowstone-park and Mount Vesuvio in Italy.

The same pattern will happen all over again. First the problem is ignored untill disaster strikes with total destruction, casualties and millions of wounded. Survivors try to rebuild but are overrun by greedy newcomers and vanish from history. One more thing. The Thera- or Tyra-explosion might have opened up the “Dardannels”, hereby connecting the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, a sweet water lake. Creating another, but slower disaster. The slowly drowning of the area. This could be the actual cause of the description of “the Great Flood” in the Bible.

Something to think about.”