The Ammonites : Elites, Empires, and Sociopolitical Change (1000-500 BCE)

The Ammonites
Author(s): Craig W. Tyson

This book investigates the archaeological, epigraphic, and biblical evidence for the course of Ammon's history, setting it squarely within the context of ancient Near Eastern imperialism. Drawing on cross-cultural parallels from the archaeology of empires, Tyson elucidates the dynamic processes by which the local Ammonite elite made the cousins of biblical Israel visible to history. Tyson explains changes in the region of Ammon during the Iron Age II, namely the increasing numbers of locally produced elite items as well as imports, growth in the use of writing for administrative and display purposes, and larger numbers of sedentary settlements; in the light of the transformative role that the Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian empires played in the ancient Near East. The study also widens the conversation to consider cross-cultural examples of how empires affect peripheral societies.

Review(s):

“Readers who come to this volume for bibliography and discussion of data relevant to ancient Ammon will find Tyson a reliable and insightful guide” —Journal of Theological Studies, vol. 65

“A very well-crafted volume that summarizes the archaeology of Iron Age Ammon in an up-to-date and state-of-the-art fashion. Tyson deals with a broad range of topics and manages to weave them together into a coherent and convincing picture of this fascinating Iron Age culture.” -Review of Biblical Literature

ISBN:  9780567665294