The Roots of Israel and Judah
Tides of History
The Collapse of Canaan After Egyptian Withdrawal
The Egyptian withdrawal from Canaan between 1150 and 1125 BC led to a major transformation in the region. The surge of violence and destruction in Canaan was attributed to the Egyptians leaving rather than the Marauding Sea Peoples as previously thought. There were multiple episodes of destruction over decades following the Egyptian departure, leading to the downfall of formerly large centers like Megido and La Chish. Instead of recovering, these cities were replaced by smaller villages with an indigenous material culture. The collapse of the longstanding political framework of city-states without Egyptian support caused the cities to fail, dispersing their residents. Life in rural areas continued as before, showing little change associated with the Egyptian withdrawal.
