List of Illustrations xi Series Editor's Foreword xiii Preface xv Acknowledgments xix PROLOGUE The Collapse Civilizations: 1177 BC 1 CHAPTER ONE Act I. Of Arms and the Man: Fifteenth Century 14 TWO II. An (Aegean) Affair to Remember: Fourteenth 43 THREE III. Fighting for Gods Country: Thirteenth 73 FOUR IV. End an Era: Twelfth 102 FIVE A Perfect Storm Calamities? 139 EPILOGUE Aftermath 171 Dramatis Personae 177 Notes 181 Bibliography 201 Index 229

Abstract

This book looks at the 942 artifacts of foreign origin - from Anatolia, Cyprus, Egypt, Italy, Mesopotamia, and Syro-Palestine which have been found in late Bronze Age Aegean area. These objects represent only group material LBA that has not disintegrated or disappeared, as such are unique providing information about complex trade networks period. Begining with a discussion transactions LBA, Cline then examines literary pictorial evidence for international presents full catalogue description,...

In the tumultuous and vivid history of New Kingdom Egypt, Ramesses III's reign was prosperous culturally rich. He fended off attacks by Sea Peoples others who threatened state, he built great temple Medinet Habu, left wonderfully complete documents describing contemporary social structure economy. Amazingly, we even have an account from a judicial document that describes events leading to assassination. This edited collection presents detailed informative look at life, career, world one...

Scholars have for generations recognized the importance of wine production, distribution, and consumption in relation to second millennium BC palatial complexes Mediterranean Near East. However, direct archaeological evidence has rarely been offered, despite prominence ancient viticulture administrative clay tablets, visual media, various forms documentation. Tartaric syringic acids, along with resination, identified ceramics, but until now contexts behind these sporadic discoveries had...

Here we explore aspects of Canaanite palatial economy through an analysis finds from the Middle Bronze Age palace at Tel Kabri, a 34 ha site located in western Galilee modern day Israel. The was founded middle part MBA I period, and continued without interruption until advanced II period. Despite fact that Kabri vast (perhaps up to 6000 sq m), functioned as center polity, could commission wall floor paintings Aegean style, there are no signs literate administration, or even administrative...

Abstract Around 1200 BCE , the societies of Late Bronze Age (LBA) in Eastern Mediterranean experienced a collective collapse, evident archeological remains destroyed and abandoned cities. Following our prior explorations this topic, we hypothesize that network structure between LBA amplified compounding threats, producing cascade failures culminated precipitous broad systemic collapse. The network, so often seen as conduit for prosperity, propagated problems individual nodes. Herein discuss...

Abstract This article presents new radiocarbon evidence from the Middle Bronze Age palatial site of Tel Kabri (Israel). The final phase palace (Phase III) can be dated to II, with an end date around transition II III or very early in III. According our 14 C data, Phase (and thus ~1700 BC. is about 50–100 yr earlier than traditional chronological models for propose (~1650 BC according chronology ~1600 low chronology). data add additional a higher Levant, consistent recent Tell el-Dab c...

As the world faces multiple crises, lessons from humanity's past can potentially suggest ways to decrease disruptions and increase societal resilience. From 1200 1100 BCE, several advanced societies in Eastern Mediterranean suffered dramatic collapse. Though causes of Late Bronze Age Collapse are still debated, contributing factors may include a "perfect storm" stressors: social economic upheaval, earthquake clusters, climate change, others. We examined how collapse might have propagated...

A chronicle of the most heavily contested city in history examines battles that have been fought over so-called City Peace, from modern day conflicts, to wars millennia ago, and consequences these conflicts for world at large.

AbstractAbstractDuring the Middle Bronze Age (MB) II period (ca. 1750–1600 B.C.), Tel Kabri, located in western Galilee, Israel, was center of a thriving polity with economic and cultural connections to Egypt, Cyprus, Aegean. While Kabri some neighboring sites have been partially excavated, rise fall has not clearly understood. We present evidence from Archaeological Project (KAP) reconstruct shifting settlement patterns, demography, aspects trade hinterland MB I Late (LB) I. argue that...

During the summer of 2011, a two-room monumental structure was found at site Tel Kabri in Israel. Designated as "Orthostat Building" because its extensive use orthostats and paving slabs still situ, location, plan, architectural features this building raise questions about function relation to palace chronological phasing within palace's history. The ashlar stones, which is otherwise rather rare Middle Bronze Age structures Canaan, calls for reevaluation impact Syrian Aegean architecture on...