The Amorites: third millennium BCE
The Amorites were an ancient Semitic people who lived in the ancient Near East, particularly in the regions of Mesopotamia and the Levant. They are mentioned in historical and biblical texts, and their presence is noted from the early 3rd millennium BCE to around the 12th century BCE. The Amorites played a significant role in the political and cultural landscape of the ancient Near East during this period. The Amorites initially inhabited the western parts of Mesopotamia, including the region of Mari on the Euphrates River. Over time, they expanded their influence into the Levant, including parts of modern-day Syria, Jordan, and Israel.
In the biblical and historical texts, the Amorites are often mentioned as one of the indigenous peoples of the land of Canaan.
The Amorites were originally a nomadic people from the west of the Euphrates, but they had settled throughout southern Mesopotamia for several generations. The Amorites had begun to settle in Babylonian cities i...