The Pentarchic Diplomacy Network of the Five Greats in the Late Bronze Age Mediterranean Basin

Year 2024, , 301 - 318, 10.08.2024

Serdar Özbilen

https://doi.org/10.9737/historystudies.1404715

Abstract

The period called the Late Bronze Age in the Mediterranean Basin covers the years 1550-1200 BC. Documents from this period are known from the cuneiform documents found at Tell el-Amarna. The most distinctive feature of this period is the establishment of a diplomatic network between great and small kingdoms. The most defining feature of this network based on the principle of reciprocity is trade and diplomatic marriages. The most important innovation seen in this period is that the kings addressed each other as "brother". The aim of our study is to try to understand the place of the Amarna Age in diplomacy by examining the origin of diplomatic relations in the light of archaeological and written documents. In this respect, we think that our work will lead to those who work in the field of ancient diplomacy.

Keywords

Late Bronza Age, Amarna, Ancient Diplomacy, Great Powers Club, Pentarchy

Geç Tunç Çağı Akdeniz Havzası’nda Beş Büyüklerin Pentarşik Diplomasi Ağı

Abstract

Akdeniz Havzasında Geç Tunç Çağı olarak adlandırılan dönem MÖ 1550-1200 yıllarını kapsar. Bu döneme ait belgeler, Tell el-Amarna’da bulunan çivi yazılı belgelerden bilinmektedir. Bu dönemin en ayırt edici özelliği, büyük ve küçük krallıklar arasında diplomasi ağının oluşturulmuş olmasıdır. Karşılıklılık ilkesine dayalı bu ağın en belirleyici özelliği ise ticaret ve diplomatik evliliklerdir. Bu dönemde görülen en önemli yenilik ise kralların birbirlerine “kardeşim” şeklinde hitap etmeleridir. Söz konusu çalışmamızın amacı arkeolojik ve yazılı belgeler ışığında diplomatik ilişkilerin kökenini irdeleyerek, Amarna Çağının diplomasideki yerini anlamaya çalışmaktır. Bu yönüyle de çalışmamızın Antik diplomasi alanında çalışanlara ön ayak olacağını düşünmekteyiz.

Keywords

Geç Tunç Çağı, Amarna, Antik Diplomasi, Büyük Güçler Kulübü, Pentarşik

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