The Sea Peoples the Creators of History: a Study of Influence
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Fig. 2:1. Interpreting the research presentations of the ‘Sea Peoples’. (Illustrator: Stina Larsson, author). The Sea Peoples The Creators of History: a Study of Influence Stina Larsson Stina Larsson Vt 2015 Examensarbete, 30 hp Arkeologiprogrammet, 180 hp Stina Larsson Vt 2015 Examensarbete, 30 hp Arkeologiprogrammet, 180 hp Contents Contents ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Abstract ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Aim and Problems ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Aim .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Problems ................................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Questions .............................................................................................................................................................................. 10 Methodology ............................................................................................................................................................................. 11 Source material ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Methods ................................................................................................................................................................................. 11 Source criticism .................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Background .............................................................................................................................................................................. 13 Results ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 1177 B.C: The Year Civilisation Collapsed by Eric Cline.................................................................................................. 17 Collapse of Bronze Age Civilization in the Eastern Mediterranean: Conspiring Factors that led to the Dark Ages by Jason Freewalt .................................................................................................................................................................. 18 The Ethnicity of the Sea Peoples by Christiaan Woudhuizen ........................................................................................ 19 The Sea Peoples and their Migration by Shell Peczynski ............................................................................................... 20 Mediterranean c. 1400 BC-1000 BC by Raffaele D’Amato and Andrea Salimbeti ....................................................... 21 Discussion ................................................................................................................................................................................ 23 How have different archaeological schools of thought influenced the way in which the different researchers have approached the question of the ‘Sea Peoples’? ................................................................................................................... 23 There is the question of ethnicity, where did these people come from who were they? .................................................. 27 And the question of migration routes, where did they go? ................................................................................................ 29 Were the ‘Sea Peoples’ the reason for the late Bronze Age collapse? ................................................................................ 33 How are different archaeological schools of thought reflected in the works of selected researchers in the fields of eastern Mediterranean archaeology? .................................................................................................................................. 34 Concluding remarks ............................................................................................................................................................. 35 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................................................ 38 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................................................. 40 List of Figures........................................................................................................................................................................... 41 References ................................................................................................................................................................................ 42 Material: ............................................................................................................................................................................... 42 Theory: .................................................................................................................................................................................. 42 Stina Larsson Vt 2015 Examensarbete, 30 hp Arkeologiprogrammet, 180 hp Abstract The approaches used in recent research regarding the ‘Sea Peoples’ of the late Bronze Age in the Eastern Mediterranean have been evaluated in this thesis. Different influences exist on all planes and effect all things in different ways. Researchers have the power of creating the history we know and all too often is the biased influence of the researcher forgotten and their words are taken as facts. Different researchers approach, the studies using different schools of thought such as e.g. ‘processualism’ and post-processualism. Some scholars firmly stay by one approach side, but the approaches should be viewed as complementing each other. Raising awareness of some of the major questions within the research, and scholars different ways of approaching them is a main point in this thesis. The different scholars' approaches to research concerning the ‘Sea Peoples’ etnichity, their migration and impact brought up in the different texts have been analyzed. Concluding remarks focus on that the term ‘Sea Peoples’ is a creation of the modern day scholars and that researchers should refrain from using the term and focus on the different clans instead. A strong vote for interdisciplinary and complementary studies is presented regarding the future of this study and others. 4 Introduction Terms like the ‘Sea Peoples’ have been used for various groups throughout documented history, from modern day piracy on the African coast to the times of ancient Egypt. From the Scandinavian Vikings to the Caribbean pirates, the words of peoples coming from the seas raiding and invading lands have been documented all over the world (Harper, 2014; Brink, Price, 2008; Lucie-Smith, 1978). “The foreign countries made a conspiracy in their islands. All at once the lands were removed and scattered in the fray. No land could stand before their arms, from Khatte, Quode, Carchemish, Arzawa, and Alashiya on, being cut off at [one time]. A camp [was set up] in one place in Amor. They desolated its people, and its land was like that which had never come into being. They were coming forward toward Egypt, while flame was prepared before them. Their confederation was the Pelset, Tjekker, Shekelesh, Denye(n) and Weshesh, lands united. They laid their hands upon the lands as far as the circuit of the earth, their hearts confident and trusting: “Our plans will succeed!”” (Wilson 1969, referred to in Cline, O’Connor, 109) Fig. 2:2. Alexikoua. 2013. Invasions, destructions and possible population movements during the collapse of the Bronze Age, ca. 1200. The picture above provides and overview of the area in question, as well as the proceedings of the collapse which were the invasions and migrations. The Egyptian New Kingdom, Hittite Empire and Mycenaean Greece are visible in different colors. It is only meant to present an image for understanding of both the collapse and the area during approx. 1200 BC. This map is only showing one side of the collapse, but I consider it to be a good overview to begin with. The ‘Sea Peoples’ of the late Bronze Age Mediterranean is an umbrella term for the different clans that, during the Late Bronze Age, raided and invaded lands and cities in Egypt, the Aegean and the 5 Near East. They were the Sherden, Peleset, Tjekker, Denyen, Shekelesh, Ekwesh, Teresh, Karkisa, Lukka