Alliances and Military Assistance Through the Tell Leilan Archives (1770-1735 B.C.) An Analytical Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts, History Department, Damietta University, Damietta, Egypt

2 Lecturer, Faculty of Archaeology, Egyptology Department, Damietta University, Damietta, Egypt

Abstract

Šubat -Enlil (Šehna) was one of the major economic and political centers in northern Syria during the period 1792–1728 B.C. Its strategic location played a fundamental role in making it a focal point for conflicts and alliances among the great powers of the region. This study explores the political and military challenges the city faced, especially after it became the seat of King Shamshi-Adad I (1855–1776 B.C.), thereby rendering it a target for other regional powers such as Elam, Eshnunna, Andarig, and Mari.
The core research question lies in examining the archives of Tell Leilan as an attempt to investigate the political correspondence and treaties that reflect the significance of political allegiance and regional alliances. This has been pursued through an analytical methodology based on the available textual sources, their interpretation, and the extraction of relevant ideas presented clearly.
These treaties and alliances reveal the complexity of interregional relations, which were not confined to the military sphere alone. Rather, economic interests played a fundamental role in shaping alliances and regional policies. The documentation of these events in the Tell Leilan archive offers a valuable opportunity to understand them and sheds light on the dynamics of power and conflict in northern Syria.

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