ECOPOLITICAL CITY IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST: UGARIT

Abstract

In addition to possessing significant natural resources, the location of Syria at the crossroads of trade routes during the Bronze Age enabled wealthy city-states to develop there. The states that were established and developed in this region, such as Ugarit, used the geopolitical advantages of their location to become important city-states. However, these advantages also led states such as the Hittites, Assyrians, Mitanni and Egyptians to pursue continuous occupation policies in this region during this period. In response to the encirclement policies of the great powers, Ugarit sought to establish a regional balance of power. This balance of power was based on taking advantage of the conflicts between states that were hostile towards Ugarit. Thus, the rulers of Ugarit sought to pre-empt any attack on their country. Following the establishment of parameters such as the safe zone created by the Ugarit rulers, it was inevitable that the city-state would become a key player in interregional commercial activities. Ugarit became a significant player in the regional supply and processing of raw materials. However, the beginning of the end for Ugarit, a key stop on land and sea trade routes, was marked by attacks from the sea.

Keywords

• Ancient Near East
• Syria
• Kingdom of Ugarit
• Diplomacy
• Trade

ESKİ YAKIN DOĞU’DA EKOPOLİTİK KENT: UGARİT

Abstract

Tunç Çağı’nda Suriye coğrafyasının önemli hammadde kaynaklarına sahip olmasının yanı sıra ticaret yolları kavşağında yer alması, sahanın zengin kent devletlerine ev sahipliği yapmasını sağlamıştır. Başta Ugarit olmak üzere bu bölgede kurulan ve gelişen devletler bulundukları coğrafyanın jeopolitik avantajlarını kullanarak bölgelerinde önemli kent devletleri haline gelmiştir. Ancak Suriye coğrafyasının sahip olduğu avantajlar dönemin Hitit, Asur, Mitani ve Mısır gibi devletlerin bu bölgeye yönelik olarak sürekli işgal politikalarını geliştirmelerine de neden olmuştur. Büyük güçlerinin Suriye coğrafyasına yönelik olarak geliştirdikleri çevreleme politikalarına karşılık Ugarit bölgede bir güç dengesi oluşturmaya çalışmıştır. İfade ettiğimiz güç dengesinin temel parametrelerini ise; kendilerine yönelik saldırgan bir tavır içerisinde olan devletlerin kendi aralarındaki mücadelelerinden yararlanmak oluşturmuştur. Böylece Ugarit yöneticileri ülkelerine yönelik herhangi bir saldırı karşısında ön almaya çalışmıştır. Ugarit yöneticileri tarafından oluşturulan güvenli bölge gibi temel parametreler sonrasında kent krallığının bölgelerarası ticari faaliyetlerde önemli bir denklem haline gelmesi kaçınılmaz olmuştur. Ugarit bölgesel anlamda hammadde temininde ve işlenmesinde önemli bir aktör hâline gelmiştir. Kara ve denizlerdeki ticaret rotalarının önemli duraklarından biri haline gelen Ugarit için sonun başlangıcını ise; denizlerden gelen saldırılar oluşturmuştur.

Keywords

• Eski Yakın Doğu
• Suriye
• Ugarit Krallığı
• Diplomasi
• Ticaret

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