The Dorian Invasion refers to a significant migration of the Dorians, a Greek-speaking people, into the southern regions of Greece around the 12th century BCE. This movement is believed to have contributed to the decline of the Mycenaean civilization, leading to a period known as the Greek Dark Ages. The Dorians are thought to have brought with them new cultural practices and dialects, which influenced the development of later Greek society. The invasion is often associated with the collapse of the Mycenaean palace systems and the subsequent shift in population and power dynamics. The Dorians settled in areas such as Peloponnesus and Crete, establishing their own communities. This period saw a transition from the complex urban centers of the Mycenaeans to smaller, more isolated settlements, marking a significant change in the history of ancient Greece.