Around 1450 BCE, geopolitical shifts in the Aegean and the Near East opened a new chapter of more direct relations between Knossian Crete and Thutmosid Egypt. A systematic re-examination of Egyptian textual and iconographic evidence, combined with Cretan archaeological record, now makes it possible to reconstruct in a dynamic way the history of interactions between the kingdom of Knossos and the Egyptian Empire in the course of the second half of the 15th century BCE.
This lecture invites us to follow the Cretans’ travels towards their encounters with the Egyptians, in the Levant or directly in the Nile Valley. It will also explore their activities in Egypt. Alongside diplomacy and trade, a myriad of interactions developed, characterized by greater mobility of people – now including artisans, artists, and even mercenaries, in addition to the traditional seafarers, emissaries, and merchants.
This broad movement of persons, sailing across an increasingly connected Eastern Mediterranean, was accompanied by the flow of their goods and skills: we will attempt to identify them more precisely. By outlining this panorama, we will aim to highlight the motivations behind Cretan expeditions, the maritime routes they followed, as well as the meeting places and the actors involved.