The self-destruction of diversity” : a tale of the last days in judah's Negev towns
Abstract: The prosperous settlement system that developed in the Negev desert frontier towards the late Iron Age was characterized by the presence of various ethnic groups, including permanently settled and nomadic elements—most of whom took part in the longdistance Arabian trade. This multicultural...
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| Formato: | Artículo |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
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Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Políticas y de la Comunicación. Centro de Estudios de Historia del Antiguo Oriente
2019
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| Acceso en línea: | https://repositorio.uca.edu.ar/handle/123456789/6791 |
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| Sumario: | Abstract: The prosperous settlement system that developed in the Negev desert frontier towards the late Iron Age was characterized by the presence of various ethnic groups, including permanently settled and nomadic elements—most of whom took part in the longdistance Arabian trade. This multicultural reality experienced by Judeans, Edomites and Arabs is reflected in the rich archaeological and paleographical assemblages uncovered in Negev towns, attesting to diverse stylistic traditions. Alas, the flourishing urban system came to an abrupt end—marked by heavy destruction layers and abandonment patterns—which altered the region’s settlement system and subsistence economy for many years to come. Traditionally scholars have suggested that one of two malefactors brought about this violent end: the Babylonian empire or the Edomite kingdom—that is, external forces. A renewed study of late Iron Age IIc material culture from Negev sites has identified a third possibility. According to this reconstruction, following the decline of the Assyrian empire, Iron Age II Negev society experienced increasing socio-ethnic tension between local semi-nomads of an Edomite orientation on the one hand and on the other Judean sedentary groups. This escalating conflict eventually led to the inevitable collapse of a delicate symbiosis which had flourished in the region for over a century. |
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