The Middle Bronze Age is the 500-year-long archaeological period between 1950-1470 BC during which an abrupt change from a rural and nomadic lifestyle to an urban lifestyle occurred in the southern Levant. The urban and civic structure that developed in this period will continue in the southern Levant for the next 1000 years, through the Late Bronze and Iron Ages. It is one of the most populated periods in the history of the region and is characterized by the massive fortifications built in many of its cities, usually comprised of gigantic batteries that shaped most of the tels of Israel. In addition, the Proto-Canaanite alphabet was invented during this period, and for the first time in history, Canaan and its cities are mentioned in written sources: The Egyptian Execration texts mention the names of cities and kings from the region, like Ashkelon, Jerusalem, Hazor, etc.
Major economic and commercial developments occurred during the period, as complex, unprecedentedly wide-reaching terrestrial and maritime trade connections were established, spreading from Mesopotamia to Anatolia, Egypt, and the Aegean Sea. Accordingly, cultural influences became more prominent during the period, appearing in the fortified cities established along the Canaanite coast, like Ashkelon, Jaffa, and Acre. The urban civic structure began to develop around palaces which were the centre of financial and religious power, and across Syria and Mesopotamia, the Amorites gained control.
The period is divided into three sub-periods, the distinction between them based on gradual changes in pottery style:
During the Middle Bronze Age I (1950-1710 BC) settlements in the southern Levant were gradually fortified, monumental construction began, and an urban order comprised of cities, rural settlements and agricultural hinterland was established.
During the Middle Bronze Age II (1710-1590 BC) several cities in the southern Levant as Hazor and Ashkelon gained political power and grew into little city-states governing the settlements around them. Additionally, pottery from the period found in sites in Egypt allows its dating according to Egyptian written sources, as well as points to the development of the trade connections of the southern Levant, testified as well by Canaanite material culture discovered in Cyprus.
In the Middle Bronze Age III (1590-1470 BC) the urbanization process in Cannan peaked. The material culture in certain areas indicate strengthening ties with and/or influences from Egypt, together with an intensification of Canaanite participation in the maritime trade network, especially with Cyprus and the Aegean region. This period saw political changes in Egypt: its unification after the Hyksos dynasty’s defeat, which influenced southern Cannan: Tell el-Ajjul or Tell el-Far’ah (South) were subdued, and some contend the entire region came under Egyptian hegemony.
The end of the period and the beginning of the Late Bronze Age period is based on this historical event, which is known from Egyptian sources. No major change in the material culture is noted between the periods. Nevertheless, several Canaanite cities were destroyed at the end of the period over a timespan of dozens of years, and some connect these destructions with Egyptian attacks, inner political conflicts, or environmental factors.
Sources
Yasur-Landau, A. (2019). The Middle Bronze Age. In Faust, A., & Katz H. (Eds.). Archaeology of the land of Israel: From the Neolithic to Alexander the Great (vol. 1) (pp. 331-436). Lamda – The Open University.