Canaanite jars from Memphis as evidence for trade and political relationships in the Middle Bronze Age
Trade between two regions often necessitates that the respective parties are political entities. This was indeed the case for trade between Egypt and the Levant during the Middle Bronze Age (ca. 2000-1550 BC, MBA) and Late Bronze Age (ca. 1550-1200 BC, LBA). Scientific analyses of Canaanite jars, transport vessels, from the site of Memphis, Egypt provided an ideal proxy for examining the relationship between trade and politics. During the MBA, Levantine peoples were present at the site of Tell el-Dabca in the eastern Nile Delta. However, archaeologically there is little evidence for contact between these peoples and the Egyptians at Memphis. Results of comparison of MBA Canaanite jars from both sites suggest the political situation fostered trade with the Levant and limited interaction with the Egyptians. During the LBA, Egyptian kings controlled territory in the Levant. A comparison of MBA and LBA Canaanite jars from Memphis revealed that the political changes in some cases affected the trade partners but not in others. Further, the production of the jars appeared to have altered in some regions. These results suggest that the affect of political situations on trade can vary, from only minor changes, to the
Ownby, Mary
Egypt ; Levant ; Petrography ; Ceramics
Canaanite jars from Memphis as evidence for trade and political relationships in the Middle Bronze Age. Trade between two regions often necessitates that the respective parties are political entities. This was indeed the case for trade between Egypt and the Levant during the Middle Bronze Age (ca. 2000-1550 BC, MBA) and Late Bronze Age (ca. 1550-1200 BC, LBA). Scientific analyses of Canaanite jars, transport vessels, from the site of Memphis, Egypt provided an ideal proxy for examining the relationship between trade and politics. During the MBA, Levantine peoples were present at the site of Tell el-Dabca in the eastern Nile Delta. However, archaeologically there is little evidence for contact between these peoples and the Egyptians at Memphis. Results of comparison of MBA Canaanite jars from both sites suggest the political situation fostered trade with the Levant and limited interaction with the Egyptians. During the LBA, Egyptian kings controlled territory in the Levant. A comparison of MBA and LBA Canaanite jars from Memphis revealed that the political changes in some cases affected the trade partners but not in others. Further, the production of the jars appeared to have altered in some regions. These results suggest that the affect of political situations on trade can vary, from only minor changes, to the
canaanite jar memphis evidence trade political relationship middle_bronze_age trade two_region often necessitate respective party political_entity indeed case trade egypt levant middle_bronze_age mba late_bronze_age lba scientific analyse canaanite jar transport vessel site memphis egypt provide_ideal proxy examine_relationship trade politics mba levantine people present site_tell eastern nile delta however archaeologically little_evidence contact people egyptians memphis comparison mba canaanite jar sit suggest political_situation foster trade levant limit interaction egyptians lba egyptian king control territory levant comparison mba lba canaanite jar memphis reveal political_change case affect trade partner others production jar appear altered region suggest affect political_situation trade vary minor change