Bandits, nomads and the formation of highland polities : hinterland activity in Palestine in the late Bronze and early Iron Age
This study is an effort to view events in the Ancient Near East, especially Palestine, during the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age from a somewhat different angle. In a first instance, it will try to move away from concentrating on the movement of ethnic entities. Emphasis will be on the social groupings involved, bandits and nomads being singled out especially as they behave and evolve in a highland environment. Chapter I assesses whether or not ancient Palestine in particular offers conditions appropriate for the rise of banditry. chapter 2 will analyze behavioral patterns among bandits and stress that they can function as wielders of important political and military power. Chapter 3 introduces nomads especially as they are perceived by the sedentary and urban groups, but also as they stand in relation to bandits. Chapter 4 will use these findings to present a picture of the Palestinian highlands as an autonomous hinterland. Chapter 5 will treat the Late Bronze-Iron Age transition more directly. It will point out how these same highlands became an attractive area of refuge during the time of the late Egyptian takeover, the arrival of the Sea Peoples, and, finally, the collapse of the empire. Chapter 6 will
Schaeler, Ray R. J.
Bronze age Palestine ; Palestine History ; Religious studies
Bandits, nomads and the formation of highland polities : hinterland activity in Palestine in the late Bronze and early Iron Age. This study is an effort to view events in the Ancient Near East, especially Palestine, during the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age from a somewhat different angle. In a first instance, it will try to move away from concentrating on the movement of ethnic entities. Emphasis will be on the social groupings involved, bandits and nomads being singled out especially as they behave and evolve in a highland environment. Chapter I assesses whether or not ancient Palestine in particular offers conditions appropriate for the rise of banditry. chapter 2 will analyze behavioral patterns among bandits and stress that they can function as wielders of important political and military power. Chapter 3 introduces nomads especially as they are perceived by the sedentary and urban groups, but also as they stand in relation to bandits. Chapter 4 will use these findings to present a picture of the Palestinian highlands as an autonomous hinterland. Chapter 5 will treat the Late Bronze-Iron Age transition more directly. It will point out how these same highlands became an attractive area of refuge during the time of the late Egyptian takeover, the arrival of the Sea Peoples, and, finally, the collapse of the empire. Chapter 6 will
nomad formation highland polity hinterland activity palestine late_bronze_early_iron age study effort view event ancient_near_east especially palestine late_bronze_early_iron age somewhat different angle first_instance try move_away concentrate movement ethnic entity emphasis social grouping involve nomad single especially behave evolve highland environment ass_whether ancient palestine particular offer condition appropriate rise analyze behavioral pattern_among stress function important political_military power introduces especially perceive sedentary urban group also stand relation use finding_present picture palestinian highlands autonomous hinterland treat late_bronze iron_age transition directly point highland become attractive area refuge time late egyptian takeover arrival sea finally collapse empire