ABSTRACT.This contribution analyses maritime trade in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Late Bronze Age (c. 1570–1200 BC), focussing on interconnections between Egypt and the states in Western Asia, and the role played by trade in the growth of these states. It shows that economic exchanges were embedded in an overall standardized pattern of high-level diplomatic interactions between rulers, whose customary metaphor was that of ‘brotherhood’ and ‘friendship’.

RÉSUMÉCette contribution analyse le commerce maritime en Méditerranée orientale pendant l’Âge du bronze récent (c. 1570–1200 av. J.-C.), en s'intéressant particulièrement aux interactions entre l’Égypte et les États d'Asie occidentale et au rôle du commerce dans la croissance de ces États. Elle montre que les échanges économiques s'intégraient dans un modèle général et standardisé d'interactions diplomatiques entre les souverains, qui se définissait par la métaphore traditionnellement usitée de « confrérie » et « camaraderie ».

INTRODUTION

This essay analyses the development of the maritime trade in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Late Bronze Age (c. 1570–1200 BC) and the interconnections between Egypt and the states in Western Asia (Hatti, Mittani, Babylon, Assyria, Alashiya/Cyprus and Canaan). International trade in the Eastern Mediterranean played a major role in the growth of states, and their rulers began to realize the importance of diplomacy in order to guarantee the exchange of goods and to increase their benefits. The states were engaged in a complex political game, between ‘independence’, ‘interdependence’ and ‘interaction’ based networks. Trade routes connected centers and enclaves, which spread different cultural influences, including religion, metallurgy, tools, pottery, garments and food. Economic exchanges were embedded in an overall standardized pattern of high-level diplomatic interactions, whose customary metaphor was that of ‘brotherhood’ and ‘friendship’.