What significant group contributed to the decline of the Mycenaean civilization around 1150 B.C.E.?

The Sea Peoples are recognized as a significant factor in the decline of the Mycenaean civilization around 1150 B.C.E. This group, thought to have originated from various regions in the eastern Mediterranean, launched a series of attacks against established cities and cultures along the coasts of the Aegean and beyond. Their incursions contributed to widespread disruption, which led to the collapse of trade networks and the destabilization of political structures in Mycenaean society. Archeological evidence indicates that the Mycenaeans faced destruction at several key sites, which aligns with the period of increased activity by the Sea Peoples.

The involvement of the Sea Peoples illustrates a critical moment in the transition from the Late Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age, marking the end of the Mycenaean civilization's dominance in the region. Their attacks not only caused immediate destruction but also instigated a broader pattern of societal shifts that influenced subsequent cultures, including the development of Greek city-states in the coming centuries.