Narratives

The narrative of the Sea Peoples is complex with many different interpretations. Below we highlight some of the agreed upon and disagreed upon aspects of the Sea Peoples, as well as their impact on both the ancient world and modern understanding, highlighting what we can actually conclude, given the evidence available.

Medinet Habu & 'Sea Peoples'

Where did this all come from? Who exactly were the sea peoples, and what did they do? At a high level, what are the narratives and events that historians actually agree on? Where is there room for interpretation? And what are the implications of these interpretations?Click to learn more

Philistines and Land Claims

Generally, historians identify the Philstines as originating from the Aegean Sea, and related to the Peleset, one of groups forming the Sea Peoples. Modern DNA studies show us evidence of how the Philistines quickly assimilated into local communities in the Levant. So what does this mean? For politicians, it might mean a lot.Click to learn more

Militarization and Organization

In older academic narratives, the Sea Peoples were often portrayed as a military coalition that went about raiding and pillaging, and brought about the collapse of the Bronze Age. Though they are less often scapegoated by historians today, how much of this is true? What other reasons could there be for their migration, and the subsequent collapse of the Bronze Age?Click to learn more