Late Bronze Age Iron Age Levant Phoenicians Philsitines
Abstract:
The collapse of the Late Bronze Age in the Eastern Mediterranean during the 13th –11th centuries BCE marked a transformative period. While many Late Bronze Age imperial powers declined, Philistia and Phoenicia emerged resilient, navigating chaos, and laying the foundations for their continued importance. Despite their shared prosperity during the Early Iron Age, the reasons for each region’s success appear to be vastly different. The changes appear to be less drastic in Phoenicia, as the Late Bronze Age culture persists, yet undergoes processes of regionalization. The changes in Philistia appear much more sudden, as the Southern Coastal Plain saw the incursion of the infamous Philistines and their non-indigenous material culture. This thesis delves into the economic and cultural roots that fostered the prosperity of both regions in the aftermath of the collapse of the Late Bronze Age and its system. It will analyze how the two regions navigated the economic repercussions of the decline in long-distance trade, as well as the role of cultural change in fostering such resilience. This thesis will dissect both the economic and cultural mechanisms that enabled successful navigation of the end of the Late Bronze Age. Examining Philistia and Phoenicia's resilience during the Early Iron Age offers insights into the dynamics of societal transformation during regional turmoil.
