 Mycenaean Greece perished with the collapse of Bronze Age culture in the eastern Mediterranean , to be followed by the so @-@ called Greek Dark Ages , a <unk> transitional period leading to Archaic Greece where significant shifts occurred from palace @-@ centralized to de @-@ centralized forms of socio @-@ economic organization ( including the extensive use of iron ) . Various theories have been proposed for the end of this civilization , among them the Dorian invasion or activities connected to the “ Sea Peoples ” . Additional theories such as natural disasters and climatic changes have been also suggested . The Mycenaean period became the historical setting of much ancient Greek literature and mythology , including the Trojan Epic Cycle . 
