Sea Peoples

Glossaries

Term	Definition
Sea Peoples	The Sea Peoples refer to a collection of migratory or invading groups that, during the 13th and 12th centuries BCE, traveled across the Eastern Mediterranean, contributing to the collapse of major civilizations such as the Hittites and Mycenaeans. The Sea Peoples is a term used by historians to describe various groups of people who, during the 13th and 12th centuries BCE, carried out migrations and incursions across the Eastern Mediterranean. The exact origins of these groups remain uncertain, but they are mentioned in several ancient inscriptions, most notably the reliefs of Ramses III’s mortuary temple at Medinet Habu in Egypt. Their arrival coincided with a period of significant upheaval, known as the Late Bronze Age Collapse, which saw the downfall of major kingdoms and city-states, including the Hittites, Mycenaeans, and several Levantine coastal cities. While a definitive list of the Sea Peoples is unavailable, ancient texts identify groups such as the Sherden, Philistines, Lukka, and Ekwesh. These groups are thought to have engaged in maritime raids, land-based warfare, and migrations. Their role in the collapse of prominent civilizations remains debated, though archaeological and textual evidence points to a time of profound socio-political disruption associated with their movements.

Term

Definition

The Sea Peoples refer to a collection of migratory or invading groups that, during the 13th and 12th centuries BCE, traveled across the Eastern Mediterranean, contributing to the collapse of major civilizations such as the Hittites and Mycenaeans.

The Sea Peoples is a term used by historians to describe various groups of people who, during the 13th and 12th centuries BCE, carried out migrations and incursions across the Eastern Mediterranean. The exact origins of these groups remain uncertain, but they are mentioned in several ancient inscriptions, most notably the reliefs of Ramses III’s mortuary temple at Medinet Habu in Egypt. Their arrival coincided with a period of significant upheaval, known as the Late Bronze Age Collapse, which saw the downfall of major kingdoms and city-states, including the Hittites, Mycenaeans, and several Levantine coastal cities.

While a definitive list of the Sea Peoples is unavailable, ancient texts identify groups such as the Sherden, Philistines, Lukka, and Ekwesh. These groups are thought to have engaged in maritime raids, land-based warfare, and migrations. Their role in the collapse of prominent civilizations remains debated, though archaeological and textual evidence points to a time of profound socio-political disruption associated with their movements.