Egyptian contacts with Palestine at the turn of the third millennium BC

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As the Egyptian state was being created in the late fourth and early third millennia BC, the Egyptians took a growing interest in the land of Canaan. Increased contacts combined with Egyptian arrivals especially in the south of Palestine led to the creation of Egyptian settlements and trade factories. Foundations for the growth of this involvement were probably laid by the population of the Lower- -Egyptian culture. In the period corresponding to early Bronze la in Palestine, contacts unquestionably existed between southern Canaan and the Nile Delta, at that time inhabited by members of that culture. That would be at the time when, in Egypt’s south, the Nagada II culture developed (phases Ilb-c) and at the time slightly preceding the developments that resulted in Nagada II culture moving to the north and embracing the Delta. Probably even then representatives of the Lower-Egyptian culture were present in some places in Canaan. In the period when the Nagada population’s drive north into the Nile Delta caused the decline of the Lower-Egyptian culture, and approximately from the middle of the Nagada II period (N Ilc-d), there is less evidence for Egyptian presence in Canaan. This, however, does not mean a cessation of trade between the two areas. A renewed Egyptian involvement in southern Canaan is seen in the late fourth and early third millennia BC, at the close of dynasty 0 and start of I dynasty (especially at the time of Narmer). In that period, the Egyptians settling in Canaan included representatives of Egyptian administration. That close relations existed at the time is indicated by such finds in Canaan as royal serechas, Egyptian pottery (including vessels of Egyptian design but executed in Palestine of local materials), flint tools, and impressions of Egyptian seals. Such finds suggest that Egyptian settlement concentrated mainly in southern Canaan. It was first suggested that Egyptians arrived in the area as a result of military conquest. Today, however, the view prevails that it was peaceful settlement. Some consider the possibility that Egyptians colonized southern Palestine. The land bridge connecting both areas was the Sinai Peninsula with its trade route. This is conoborated by research in the north-western Sinai which yielded much Egyptian and Palestinian material. However, after the early I dynasty, Egyptian activity in the area declines. If Palestinian artifacts are still found in Egypt, there is a visible drop in the number of items discovered in Palestine. Toward the end of the II dynasty trade links with southern Palestine decrease and continue to do so under the Old Kingdom. Perhaps this withdrawal was caused by development of sea trade with Lebanon which undermined the importance of the old land route to Canaan. Another factor that might have contributed was the change in Palestine that led to social and political development of the local population.