The Kingdom of Alashiya: The History and Legacy of the Ancient Trading Kingdom on Cyprus during the Bronze Age

International trade in the ancient world was a more intricate and far-reaching system than many have been led to believe. The Silk Road and the Incense Trade Route have been heavily researched in recent decades, and the Amber Road trade network dominating northern Europe has become a more prominent area of focus for historians as well. Trade was at the forefront of the Late Bronze Age (c. 1500-1200 BCE),especially in the Near East, where great kingdoms developed a network of trade and diplomacy stretching from Persia to Egypt and from Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) down to Arabia. The system these kingdoms built is well-documented in texts from Egypt, Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and other places, and archaeological excavations have uncovered more. Studies of the Late Bronze Age system have revealed that although it may have lacked the technology of later eras, it was just as sophisticated as any other geopolitical system in terms of the manner in which the kingdoms interacted and conducted business with each other. Most importantly, alliances were formed and dissolved and trade was carefully negotiated and documented by its members.

Most major powers in the system are quite well-known, including Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Hatti, and Mittani, but one of the members remains fairly enigmatic: the Kingdom of Alashiya. The primary mystery concerning the Kingdom of Alashiya was its precise location, because the known Egyptian, Akkadian, and Hittite texts mentioning Alashiya fail to properly place the kingdom geographically. For years scholars were torn between its possible location, with most believing it was either in Cyprus, Cilicia, or somewhere in Syria, but today, most accept that Alashiya was in Cyprus.

Nevertheless, there are still a number of stumbling blocks preventing a true understanding of this Bronze Age culture. Although the people of Cyprus were literate in the Bronze Age, scholars have yet to decipher the Cypro-Minoan script, just as they have been unable to decode the Minoan Linear A script. This inability to read ancient Cypriot script means that scholars are left with no readable Cypriot/Alashiyan list of kings, so a true chronology cannot be constructed. For these reasons, the history of Bronze Age Cyprus and Alashiya have been largely outlined through a combination of archaeological work and mentions in Egyptian, Akkadian, and Hittite texts.

Although the record is incomplete, enough is known to suggest that Cyprus was home to thriving kingdoms that played a major role in the development of the Mediterranean and Near East. Indeed, evidence demonstrates that Alashiya became a major power through trade and commerce due to its possession of copper, an incredibly valuable commodity. But eventually, Alashiya suffered the same fate as many of its neighbors at the end of the Bronze Age when it was overwhelmed by the migrations of various warrior bands collectively known as the Sea Peoples. Fortunately, even though the invasions of the Sea Peoples marked the end of Alashiya and the Bronze Age, remnants of the Alashiyan culture persisted and were augmented by Greek and Phoenician culture during the early Iron Age.

The Kingdom of Alashiya: The History and Legacy of the Ancient Trading Kingdom on Cyprus during the Bronze Age examines the mysterious kingdom and its relationships with various other kingdoms nearby. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about ancient Cyprus like never before.