The collapse of the Mycenaean palatial state(s) around 1200 BC brought about significant changes on all socio‐political and economic aspects that were organized by the palaces and their administrators. This chapter organizes the discussion of the important transitional period from the Late Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age in chronological sub‐periods to appreciate the various transformation processes during half a millennium. To illustrate the length of time involved, it could be compared to the vibrant period of political, economic and social changes from Diocletian to Charlemagne, which marked the break‐up of the Roman Empire and the rise of the Holy Roman Empire in Central Europe. The chapter outlines processes of change, continuity, and transformation between 1200 and 700 BC and follows the various strands of "cultural memory". The processes marking the centuries from the 12th to 8th account for the major transformation of Greece from a palatial society to that of communities of citizens.
