Brotherhood of Kings Analysis Amanda Podany’s Brotherhood of Kings provides a look at international relations in the near east during much of the third and second millennia BCE and how these interactions shaped the development of the area. In this analysis of Podany’s work an overview of Brotherhood of Kings, including its purpose, how it is structured, the major themes of the piece, the sources used within it, as well as the main points Podany draws, will be given. From there the influence of both religion and women on the interactions between states in the region will be examined. Available to see immediately, Brotherhood of Kings places a very large focus on the role of international communication and its effects on the region. Examining
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Elba and the Akkadian Empire from 2500 BCE to 2000 BCE provides the focus for the first section, which leads to the second section which covers diplomatic relations and trade within the region during the Old Babylonian Period, stretching form 2000 BCE to 1595 BCE. From there the third section covers 1600 BCE to 1400 BCE, detailing the emergence of the Hittite Empire and the struggles of Babylon during this time. The last section of the book covers the 14th century BCE with an emphasis on the interactions between Mitanni and New Kingdom era …show more content…
Beginning with a treaty between Elba and Abarsal the gods were often invoked in a way to ensure the treaty was honored. Lacking other ways to ensure the other side kept their side of the bargain, both sides would call on their gods to punish their enemies should they break the oaths outlined within the treaty. As it was the common belief that the gods of every nation were a very real thing, this was something taken very seriously by the signatories of these agreements, as explained by Podany, “Only the gods could play this role, and of course the gods of both parties needed to be called on. The gods were absolutely real to the ancients, and they believed in everyone’s gods, not just their own. If someone broke an oath he could expect the gods would punish him.”
Elba and the Akkadian Empire from 2500 BCE to 2000 BCE provides the focus for the first section, which leads to the second section which covers diplomatic relations and trade within the region during the Old Babylonian Period, stretching form 2000 BCE to 1595 BCE. From there the third section covers 1600 BCE to 1400 BCE, detailing the emergence of the Hittite Empire and the struggles of Babylon during this time. The last section of the book covers the 14th century BCE with an emphasis on the interactions between Mitanni and New Kingdom era …show more content…
Beginning with a treaty between Elba and Abarsal the gods were often invoked in a way to ensure the treaty was honored. Lacking other ways to ensure the other side kept their side of the bargain, both sides would call on their gods to punish their enemies should they break the oaths outlined within the treaty. As it was the common belief that the gods of every nation were a very real thing, this was something taken very seriously by the signatories of these agreements, as explained by Podany, “Only the gods could play this role, and of course the gods of both parties needed to be called on. The gods were absolutely real to the ancients, and they believed in everyone’s gods, not just their own. If someone broke an oath he could expect the gods would punish him.”