The Eastern Mediterranean in the Age of Ramesses II

The Eastern Mediterranean in the Age of Ramesses II offers a transnational perspective on the age of King Ramesses II of Egypt during the centuries of 1500 to 1200 BC.

• Shows how powerful states - stretching from western Iran to Greece and from Turkey to Sudan - jointly shaped the history, society, and culture of this region through both peaceful and military means
• Offers a straightforward narrative, current research, and rich illustrations
• Utilizes historical data from ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, Hittites, Mycenaeans, Canaanites, and others
• Considers all members of these ancient societies, from commoners to royalty - exploring everything from people’s eating habits to royal negotiations over diplomatic marriages

List of illustrations.

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

Note to the reader.

1 The World in 1279 BC.

2 The Primary Actors: States.

3 The Other Actors: On the Fringes of the States.

4 Political Organization and Social Structure.

5 Diplomacy and War.

6 Food and Drink.

7 Aspects of the economy: textiles, metals, and trade.

8 Cultures in Contact.

9 A Mediterranean system.

10 End of an Era.

Appendix: King Lists.

Notes.

Bibliography.

Index.

"Throughout the chapters, various basic problems of historical methodology from interaction to self-identification, from technological change to collapse are faced and explained in an easy but correct way." (Recensiones, 2010)

Marc Van De Mieroop is Professor of Ancient Near Eastern History at Columbia University, New York. He has also taught at Yale University and at the University of Oxford. He has written numerous books and articles including, most recently, King Hammurabi of Babylon: A Biography (Blackwell, 2004) and A History of the Ancient Near East, ca. 3000-323 BC: Second Edition (Blackwell, 2007). “The Eastern Mediterranean in the Age of Ramesses II offers a persuasive analysis of the earliest period for which we can reconstruct systematic connections among states in a whole region of the world. Marc Van De Mieroop shows that the elites of different cultures and civilizations were bound together by common interests and values while competing constantly with one another. This novel work contributes decisively to debates on the history of many periods and places.”
–John Baines, University of Oxford

“Van de Mieroop takes on a complex topic-the political, economic, social, and cultural history of the Late Bronze Age in the Middle East and Mediterranean world. The bibliographic essays, more like bibliographic notes, are very useful for further reading … .Recommended.” (Choice Reviews, December 2008)

“A refreshingly literate depiction … .Welcome broad-brush viewpoint to those of us who study … one culture at a time, and sorely need the wider lens.” (About.com)