Chapter 17: The Great Powers

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Ms. Sells’ 7^th Grade Ancient History Class

Amenhotep III and Tadu-Heba

• Setting: 1350 BCE – Thebes, Egypt
• Tadu-Heba comes from Syria along with servants and gifts; she is marrying Egypt's king and is bringing her dowry!
• The purpose of the marriage was to ensure peace and prosperity between regions!

The Great Powers (1387 – 1176 BCE)

• There were 5 great kingdoms that usually dominated the ancient world: Hatti, Mittani, Babylon, Egypt and Alashiya (Cyprus).
• Most powerful: Egypt due to their gold!
• Called one another “brothers” which implies they respected one another.
• Marriages, like that of Amenhotep and Tadu-Heba, united them to ensure peace.
• Language of diplomacy: Akkadian
• Both the Kingdom of Mittani and the Hittites wanted a port, and so they started as enemies.
• Began around 1185 BCE, Hittite city of Ugarit attacked by a mysterious people from the sea!

​

The Great Powers

• Time period also called the “International Age.”
• Ended in 1176 BCE with the collapse of the Hittite empire (Hatti).
• By 1,000 BCE Mesopotamia = completely changed.

The End Of The International Age

• Documents from Ugarit give us some evidence about the events leading up to the end of the International Age.
• In 1185 BCE, Ammurapi, a Hittite King in the city of Ugarit, saw warships in the harbor. His troops were not in the city and it was sacked. Archaeological evidence showed that the city was burned around 1185 BCE and never rebuilt.
• Hattusa was burned and abandoned around the same time, as was Alashiya.
• By 1100 BCE, Mittani, Hatti, and Alashiya were destroyed. Babylonia was in decline and Egypt was struggling.

Cyprus (Alashiya)

Egypt

Hatti

Mittani

Babylon