What caused the collapse of the Mycenaean world?

The same convergence of factors proposed for the broader Bronze Age Collapse likely applies here: drought reducing agricultural yields, disruption of trade networks that provided essential materials (particularly tin for bronze production), possible earthquakes, and internal social stress.

But there is also evidence from the Linear B tablets that the Mycenaeans were aware of threats from outside their territory.

Tablets from Pylos record measures being taken to guard the coastline and the distribution of weapons to crews.

This suggests awareness of maritime raiders — the kind of activity that the Egyptian records attribute to the Sea Peoples.