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Journals / TYB Akademi Dil Edebiyat ve Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi / 2026 / Sayı: 47

Reassessing the Collapse of Civilizations in the Near East at the End of the 3rd Millennium BC and the Beginning of the 2nd Millennium BC

MÖ 3. binyılın sonu ve MÖ 2. binyılın başında Yakın Doğu'daki Medeniyetlerin Çöküşünün Yeniden Değerlendirilmesi

Umut Parlıtı(ATATÜRK ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-9895-4926
Sefa Köse(ATATÜRK ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-6197-4210
Pages
143–172
Publication Date
2026-05-31
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Ultimately, this study demonstrates that, in addition to climatic data, human-environment interaction was a decisive factor in understanding the social and economic transformations that occurred in the early 2nd millennium BCE.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:This research examines the significant climatic changes that occurred between the last quarter of the 3rd millennium BCE and the beginning of the 2nd millennium BCE in the Eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Anatolia, Syria-Mesopotamia, and South Caucasus regions, as well as the effects of these changes on settled societies.
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Key Findings & Data:The analysis results reveal that the climate fluctuated from 2500 BC onwards, but drought reached its peak during the 4.2 ka climate event defined around 2200 BC.
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Conclusion & Impact:Ultimately, this study demonstrates that, in addition to climatic data, human-environment interaction was a decisive factor in understanding the social and economic transformations that occurred in the early 2nd millennium BCE.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:İklimsel Değişim · Kuraklık · MÖ 2200 Olayı (4.2 ka olayı)

Abstract

This research examines the significant climatic changes that occurred between the last quarter of the 3rd millennium BCE and the beginning of the 2nd millennium BCE in the Eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Anatolia, Syria-Mesopotamia, and South Caucasus regions, as well as the effects of these changes on settled societies. Within the scope of the study, sediment samples obtained from different archaeological sites, pollen data, and stable isotope analyses were evaluated using a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach, with the aim of reconstructing past environmental and climatic conditions. The analysis results reveal that the climate fluctuated from 2500 BC onwards, but drought reached its peak during the 4.2 ka climate event defined around 2200 BC. It is understood that the environmental damage observed during this period was not solely the result of natural climate cycles; anthropogenic interventions such as deforestation and overgrazing associated with intensive mining activities significantly increased ecological vulnerability. This climatic crisis led to the abandonment of the Akkadian Empire and major settlement centers in the Levant region, the collapse of agricultural production systems, and fundamental changes in the population structure. In this context, it is seen that the communities in the region adopted nomadic and semi-nomadic (pastoralist) strategies, moving away from settled lifestyles and migrating to high plateaus in order to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Ultimately, this study demonstrates that, in addition to climatic data, human-environment interaction was a decisive factor in understanding the social and economic transformations that occurred in the early 2nd millennium BCE.

Özet

Bu araştırma, MÖ 3. binyılın son çeyreği ile MÖ 2. binyılın başları arasında Doğu Akdeniz, Doğu Anadolu, Suriye-Mezopotamya ve Güney Kafkasya hattında meydana gelen belirgin iklimsel değişimleri ve söz konusu değişimlerin yerleşik toplumlar üzerindeki etkilerini ele almaktadır. Çalışma kapsamında farklı arkeolojik alanlardan elde edilen sediment örnekleri, polen verileri ile kararlı izotop analizleri bütüncül ve disiplinlerarası bir yaklaşımla değerlendirilmiş; böylece geçmiş çevresel ve iklimsel koşulların yeniden inşası hedeflenmiştir. Analiz sonuçları, MÖ 2500’lerden itibaren iklimde dalgalı bir seyrin izlendiğini, ancak MÖ 2200 dolaylarında tanımlanan 4.2 ka iklim olayı sırasında kuraklığın en yüksek düzeye ulaştığını ortaya koymaktadır. Bu dönemde gözlemlenen çevresel tahribatın yalnızca doğal iklim döngülerinin bir sonucu olmadığı; yoğun madencilik faaliyetlerine bağlı ormansızlaşma ve aşırı otlatma gibi insan kaynaklı (antropojenik) müdahalelerin ekolojik kırılganlığı önemli ölçüde artırdığı anlaşılmaktadır. Söz konusu iklimsel kriz, Akad İmparatorluğu ile Levant bölgesindeki büyük yerleşim merkezlerinin terk edilmesine, tarımsal üretim sistemlerinin çözülmesine ve nüfus yapısında köklü dönüşümlere neden olmuştur. Bu bağlamda, bölge topluluklarının değişen çevresel koşullara uyum sağlamak amacıyla yerleşik yaşam biçiminden uzaklaşarak yüksek yaylalara yönelen göçebe ve yarı-göçebe (pastoralist) stratejileri benimsedikleri görülmektedir. Sonuç olarak bu çalışma, MÖ 2. binyılın başlarında yaşanan toplumsal ve ekonomik dönüşümlerin anlaşılmasında iklimsel verilerin yanı sıra insan-çevre etkileşiminin belirleyici bir unsur olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Parlıtı, U., Köse, S. (2026). Reassessing the Collapse of Civilizations in the Near East at the End of the 3rd Millennium BC and the Beginning of the 2nd Millennium BC. TYB Akademi Dil Edebiyat ve Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, Sayı: 47, 143–172. https://doi.org/10.64985/tybakademi.1880672

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