ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

The Eastern Hemisphere in the 13th Century BC

The 13th century BC was a pivotal period in human history, marked by significant cultural and geographical developments across the Eastern Hemisphere.

In Asia, around 1300-1046 BC, the Shang civilization emerged in China. This dynasty established its capital at Yin, near Anyang, and expanded its territory through compact groups of settlers to create new clearing areas in the Yangzi Jiang basin, Shanxi terraces, and Wei He valley. The Shang people were frequently at war with unsinized populations in the Huai He Valley, but their armies were well-organized into infantry and archers, supported by sections of five tanks. Their armament consisted of large bows made from horns and tendons of bovids, arrows with feathers and points of deer wood, bone, shell, or bronze, small bronze knives with sharpening stones, bronze hallebarbs, leather shields stretched on wooden frames decorated with tigers.

In the northwest of India, around 1300 BC, the Aryans dominated as far as the Sarasvati River. The Vedas mentioned the Dasas, who were interpreted as a North Iranian tribe known as the Dahae. The Aryans were organized into tribal monarchies led by rajahs (kings), sharing power with two councils: one for justice and another for war. Only one rajah was named in the Rig-Veda, a king of the Bhāratas tribe, who won the coalition of ten kings, including Puru.

In the Middle East, around 1260 BC, Lapita pottery was discovered at the Bourewa site southwest of Viti Levu, marking the arrival of Melanesians to Fiji. In Mesopotamia and Syria, the Aramaeans settled in North Mesopotamia, then in Aram (now Syria) and Lebanon, forming kingdoms in the 11th century BC.

In Egypt, around 1210 BC, the Igihalkid dynasty ruled Elam, while the Kekalapuluh dynasty controlled Memphis. The New Kingdom of Egypt was established with its capitals at Pi-Ramesses. In Assyria, during the reign of Adad-nirari I, the first mention of the Ahlamu people, proto-Aramaic, occurred in 1275 BC.

In Greece, around 1200 BC, Bronze IIIB was discovered, and significant cultural developments took place in