81. Lisa Wilhelmi: Bronze Age Diplomacy

Lisa Wilhelmi discusses the international system in the ancient Middlle East. The 14th century BC tablets from Amarna in Egypt, and tablets from the royal archives in Hattusa (Türkiye), reveal diplomatic exchanges between the great powers that ruled the region. What did they want from each other? Who and what moved around, and why?

2:00 what does "international" mean?
3:09 what sources our sources say?
5:22 were the letters preserved or did they just survive?
6:50 what language do they use?
8:37 were they equal partners?
10:34 do resources buy membership of the great powers club?
12:15 how did they talk to each other?
14:35 what messages are they sending each other?
16:38 political theatre?
18:32 how princesses were chosen
19:40 did princesses take part in the correspondence?
20:13 why was cuneiform the method of communication?
23:51 cultural exchange
26:52 lost in translation?

Lisa's university page

Music by Ruba Hillawi

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