Episode 197 - The Sea Peoples

“The Sea Peoples” is a term that refers to a seafaring culture of unclear origin that bopped around the eastern Mediterranean and adjoining areas around 1200-900 BCE. There are ancient Egyptian murals and reliefs that depict battles against these unnamed adversaries, but no definitive labels or helpful texts. So who were the Sea Peoples? We’ll discuss some theories, and probably not reach any conclusions apart from “wow people really care a lot about this, huh?”

• Sea Peoples (World History Encyclopedia)

• Ask a Near Eastern Professional: Who are the Sea Peoples and what role did they play in the devastation of civilizations that occurred shortly after 1200 BCE? (Ancient Near East Today)

• Gaston Maspero and the Sea Peoples (SciHi)

• Rapid Change of Climate Did Not Cause the Fall of the Akkadian Empire (Ancient Near East Today)

• Who Were the Sea People? (ThoughtCo)

• Philistine (people) (Encyclopedia Britannica)

• Ancient DNA sheds light on the genetic origins of early Iron Age Philistines (Science Advances)

Image: Jean-Francois Champollion's notes of the peoples named on the base of the Fortified East Gate at Medinet Habu