Egypt in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Old Kingdom: an archaeological perspective

Karin N Sowada, Peter Grave

Research output: Book/Report › Book › Research › peer-review

Abstract

This study presents a revised view of Egyptian foreign relations in the eastern Mediterranean during the Old Kingdom (3rd-6th Dynasties) based on an extensive analysis of old and new archaeological data, and its relationship to the well-known textual sources. The material demonstrates that while Egypt's most important relationships were with Byblos and the Lebanese coast generally, it was an active participant in the geo-political and economic affairs of the Levant throughout much of the third millennium BCE. The archaeological data shows that the foundation of these relationships was established at the beginning of the Early Dynastic Period and essentially continued until the end of the 6th Dynasty with ebbs, flows and changes of geographical and political emphasis. It is argued that, despite the paucity of textual data, the 4th Dynasty represents the apogee of Egypt's engagement in the region, a time when the centralised state was at the height of its power and control of human and economic capital. More broadly, this study shows that Egyptian interaction in the eastern Mediterranean fits the pattern of state-to-state contact between ruling elites which was underpinned by official expeditions engaged in gift and commodity exchange, diplomatic endeavours and military incursions.
LanguageEnglish
Place of PublicationFribourg
PublisherAcademic Press
Number of pages295
ISBN (Print)9783525534557, 9783727816499, 372781649X, 3525534558
Publication statusPublished - 2009

Publication series

NameOrbis biblicus et orientalis
Volume237
ISSN (Print)1015-1850

Fingerprint

Dynasty
Eastern Mediterranean
Archaeology
Old Kingdom
Egypt
Economics
Egyptians
Commodities
Interaction
Elites
Byblos
Expedition
Millennium
Coast
Gift
Military

Keywords

  • Egypt--History--Early Dynastic Period, ca. 3100-ca. 2686 B.C.
  • Egypt--History--Old Kingdom, ca. 2686-ca. 2181 B.C.
  • Levant
  • Cultural relations
  • Egypt
  • Distance trade
  • Middle East

Cite this

Sowada, K. N., & Grave, P. (2009). Egypt in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Old Kingdom: an archaeological perspective. (Orbis biblicus et orientalis; Vol. 237). Fribourg: Academic Press.
Sowada, Karin N ; Grave, Peter. / Egypt in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Old Kingdom : an archaeological perspective. Fribourg : Academic Press, 2009. 295 p. (Orbis biblicus et orientalis).
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Sowada, KN & Grave, P 2009, Egypt in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Old Kingdom: an archaeological perspective. Orbis biblicus et orientalis, vol. 237, Academic Press, Fribourg.

Egypt in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Old Kingdom : an archaeological perspective. / Sowada, Karin N; Grave, Peter.

Fribourg : Academic Press, 2009. 295 p. (Orbis biblicus et orientalis; Vol. 237).

Research output: Book/Report › Book › Research › peer-review

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AB - This study presents a revised view of Egyptian foreign relations in the eastern Mediterranean during the Old Kingdom (3rd-6th Dynasties) based on an extensive analysis of old and new archaeological data, and its relationship to the well-known textual sources. The material demonstrates that while Egypt's most important relationships were with Byblos and the Lebanese coast generally, it was an active participant in the geo-political and economic affairs of the Levant throughout much of the third millennium BCE. The archaeological data shows that the foundation of these relationships was established at the beginning of the Early Dynastic Period and essentially continued until the end of the 6th Dynasty with ebbs, flows and changes of geographical and political emphasis. It is argued that, despite the paucity of textual data, the 4th Dynasty represents the apogee of Egypt's engagement in the region, a time when the centralised state was at the height of its power and control of human and economic capital. More broadly, this study shows that Egyptian interaction in the eastern Mediterranean fits the pattern of state-to-state contact between ruling elites which was underpinned by official expeditions engaged in gift and commodity exchange, diplomatic endeavours and military incursions.

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Sowada KN, Grave P. Egypt in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Old Kingdom: an archaeological perspective. Fribourg: Academic Press, 2009. 295 p. (Orbis biblicus et orientalis).

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