1900 BCE Near East mass migration
Encyclopedia
Various theories have been proposed that postulate waves of migration
during the Middle Bronze Age in the Ancient Near East
.
While the turmoils that separate the Late Bronze Age from the Early Iron Age are well documented (see Bronze Age collapse
), theories of migration during the Middle Bronze Age (20th century BCE) have little direct support.
Some suggestions connect these alleged "mass migrations" with the coming of the Greeks, moving from their former settlements into south and central Balkans displacing the former non-Greek inhabitants of Greece.
Others make reference to a supposed migration of the Hittites
to their earliest known home in Kültepe
during the same period.
moved into Khattian Central Anatolia (Central Turkey), conquering the Hattians
and later adopting their culture and name. This invasion by the Hittites displaced other peoples living in Anatolia, who in turn displaced the Middle Helladic Greek-speaking peoples to the west. This enforced exodus from Northwestern Anatolia created a wave of refugees who invaded what is now southern Greece and destroyed the Early Helladic civilization.
near Hafik
, and Maltepe
near Sivas all show destruction during this time. The great trading city of Kanesh (Level 2) was also destroyed. From there in the hill country between Halys the destruction layers from this time tell the same story. Karaoglan, Bitik, Polatli
and Gordion are burnt as well as Etiyokusu, Cerkes
. Further west near the Dardanelles
the two large mounds of Korpruoren and Tavsanli
, west of Kutahya, show the same signs of being razed to the ground. The destruction even crossed into Europe in what is now Bulgaria
. The migration brought an end to Bulgaria's early Bronze age, with Archaeological evidence showing that the Yunacite, Salcutza, and Esero centers had a sudden mass desertion during this time.
which destroyed the Mycenaean civilization. At this time, 1900 BCE, destruction layers can be found at southern Greek sites like Orchomenos
, Eutresis, Hagios Kosmas, Raphina, Apesokari
, Korakou
, Zygouries, Tiryns
, Asine
, Malthi and Asea
. Many other sites are deserted, e.g. Yiriza, Synoro, Ayios Gerasimos, Kophovouni, Makrovouni, Palaiopyrgos, etc. This destruction across Greece also coincided with the arrival of a new culture that had no connection with the Early Helladic
civilization, who were the original inhabitants.
Northern Greece escaped destruction, as well as southern Anatolia, which during this time showed no disturbances.
Historical migration
It is thought that pre-historical migration of human populations began with the movement of Homo erectus out of Africa across Eurasia about a million years ago. Homo sapiens appears to have colonized all of Africa about 150 millennia ago, moved out of Africa some 80 millennia ago, and spread...
during the Middle Bronze Age in the Ancient Near East
Ancient Near East
The ancient Near East was the home of early civilizations within a region roughly corresponding to the modern Middle East: Mesopotamia , ancient Egypt, ancient Iran The ancient Near East was the home of early civilizations within a region roughly corresponding to the modern Middle East: Mesopotamia...
.
While the turmoils that separate the Late Bronze Age from the Early Iron Age are well documented (see Bronze Age collapse
Bronze Age collapse
The Bronze Age collapse is a transition in southwestern Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean from the Late Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age that some historians believe was violent, sudden and culturally disruptive...
), theories of migration during the Middle Bronze Age (20th century BCE) have little direct support.
Some suggestions connect these alleged "mass migrations" with the coming of the Greeks, moving from their former settlements into south and central Balkans displacing the former non-Greek inhabitants of Greece.
Others make reference to a supposed migration of the Hittites
Hittites
The Hittites were a Bronze Age people of Anatolia.They established a kingdom centered at Hattusa in north-central Anatolia c. the 18th century BC. The Hittite empire reached its height c...
to their earliest known home in Kültepe
Kültepe
Kültepe is a modern village near the ancient city of Kaneš or Kanesh , located in the Kayseri Province of Turkey's Central Anatolia Region...
during the same period.
Hittite invasion
For reasons unknown, the HittitesHittites
The Hittites were a Bronze Age people of Anatolia.They established a kingdom centered at Hattusa in north-central Anatolia c. the 18th century BC. The Hittite empire reached its height c...
moved into Khattian Central Anatolia (Central Turkey), conquering the Hattians
Hattians
The Hattians were an ancient people who inhabited the land of Hatti in present-day central part of Anatolia, Turkey, noted at least as early as the empire of Sargon of Akkad , until they were gradually displaced and absorbed ca...
and later adopting their culture and name. This invasion by the Hittites displaced other peoples living in Anatolia, who in turn displaced the Middle Helladic Greek-speaking peoples to the west. This enforced exodus from Northwestern Anatolia created a wave of refugees who invaded what is now southern Greece and destroyed the Early Helladic civilization.
Destruction
Archaeological evidence shows that the cities of Erzerum, Sivas, Pulur Huyuk near Baiburt, KultepeKültepe
Kültepe is a modern village near the ancient city of Kaneš or Kanesh , located in the Kayseri Province of Turkey's Central Anatolia Region...
near Hafik
Hafik
Hafik is a town and a district of Sivas Province of Turkey. The mayor is Zeki Aydın ....
, and Maltepe
Maltepe
Maltepe is a district in the suburbs of Istanbul, Turkey between Kadıköy and Kartal on the Marmara sea. Its neighbours are Kadıköy to the west and Kartal to the east. The mayor of Maltepe is Mustafa Zengin . Maltepe used to border Ümraniye from the northwest between 1992 and 2004...
near Sivas all show destruction during this time. The great trading city of Kanesh (Level 2) was also destroyed. From there in the hill country between Halys the destruction layers from this time tell the same story. Karaoglan, Bitik, Polatli
Polatli
Polatlı is a city and a district in Ankara Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, 80 km west of the Turkish capital Ankara, on the road to Eskişehir. According to 2010 census, population of the district is 117,473 of which 98,605 live in the city of Polatlı...
and Gordion are burnt as well as Etiyokusu, Cerkes
Çerkes
Çerkeş is a town and district of Çankırı Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey.In addition to this, Saraycik is the most important village of Cerkes. It is famous for Badima Bukme, baklava, alacash.-References:-External links:*...
. Further west near the Dardanelles
Dardanelles
The Dardanelles , formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosphorus. It is located at approximately...
the two large mounds of Korpruoren and Tavsanli
Tavsanli
Tavşanlı is a town and district of Kütahya Province in the Aegean region of Turkey.Tavşanlı is a typical Aegean town where a government-owned coal mine company atttracted thousands of settlers from surrounding cities and villages which made the town reach the population of 62,000.The town is also...
, west of Kutahya, show the same signs of being razed to the ground. The destruction even crossed into Europe in what is now Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. The migration brought an end to Bulgaria's early Bronze age, with Archaeological evidence showing that the Yunacite, Salcutza, and Esero centers had a sudden mass desertion during this time.
Into Greece
From the Dardanelles, the refugee invaders moved into mainland Greece, and the Peloponnese saw burnt and abandoned cities on par with the much later Dorian invasionDorian invasion
The Dorian invasion is a concept devised by historians of Ancient Greece to explain the replacement of pre-classical dialects and traditions in southern Greece by the ones that prevailed in Classical Greece...
which destroyed the Mycenaean civilization. At this time, 1900 BCE, destruction layers can be found at southern Greek sites like Orchomenos
Orchomenos
Orchomenus , the setting for many early Greek myths, is a municipality and a rich archaeological site in Boeotia, Greece, that was inhabited from the Neolithic through the Hellenistic periods. , the population was 10,732...
, Eutresis, Hagios Kosmas, Raphina, Apesokari
Apesokari
Apesokari is the archaeological site of an ancient Minoan cemetery. It is also a modern village with a population of 131 and is built at 155 m above sea level...
, Korakou
Korakou
Korakou is a village in the Nicosia District of Cyprus. The hamlet of Agroladou is part of the municipality....
, Zygouries, Tiryns
Tiryns
Tiryns is a Mycenaean archaeological site in the prefecture of Argolis in the Peloponnese, some kilometres north of Nauplion.-General information:...
, Asine
Asine
Asine was an ancient Greek city of Argolis, which was the first city mentioned by Homer as part of the kingdom of Diomedes, king of Argos.In 740 BC, the Argives destroyed the city because its citizens had helped the Spartans in their war against Argos...
, Malthi and Asea
Asea
ASEA may mean:* African Securities Exchanges Association -- Formerly known as the African Stock Exchanges Association, ASEA is an alliance of African exchanges.* ASEA, a former Swedish company, now part of Asea Brown Boveri...
. Many other sites are deserted, e.g. Yiriza, Synoro, Ayios Gerasimos, Kophovouni, Makrovouni, Palaiopyrgos, etc. This destruction across Greece also coincided with the arrival of a new culture that had no connection with the Early Helladic
Helladic period
Helladic is a modern archaeological term meant to identify a sequence of periods characterizing the culture of mainland ancient Greece during the Bronze Age. The term is commonly used in archaeology and art history...
civilization, who were the original inhabitants.
Northern Greece escaped destruction, as well as southern Anatolia, which during this time showed no disturbances.