Elusive “Libyans”

Identities, Lifestyles and Mobile Populations in NE Africa (late 4th–early 2nd millennium BCE)

Datos Bibliográficos

ID12955871
AutoresJuan Carlos Moreno García (0000-0002-8045-3274, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, autor de correspondencia)
Año2018
Volumen11
Número1-2
Páginas147-184
Fecha de publicación2018-10-08
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Egyptian History (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1874-1657 • E-ISSN: 1874-1665
EditorialBrill (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.1163/18741665-12340046
OpenAlexW3206081114
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas2
Referencias citadas19

The term “Libyan” encompasses, in fact, a variety of peoples and lifestyles living not only in the regions west of the Nile Valley, but also inside Egypt itself, particularly in Middle Egypt and the Western Delta. This situation is reminiscent of the use of other “ethnic” labels, such as “Nubian,” heavily connoted with notions such as ethnic homogeneity, separation of populations across borders, and opposed lifestyles. In fact, economic complementarity and collaboration explain why Nubians and Libyans crossed the borders of Egypt and settled in the land of the pharaohs, to the point that their presence was especially relevant in some periods and regions during the late 3rd and early 2nd millennium BCE . Pastoralism was just but one of their economic pillars, as trading activities, gathering, supply of desert goods (including resins, minerals, and vegetal oils) and hunting also played an important role, at least for some groups or specialized segments of a particular social group. While Egyptian sources emphasize conflict and marked identities, particularly when considering “rights of use” over a given area, collaboration was also crucial and beneficial for both parts. Finally, the increasing evidence about trade routes used by Libyans points to alternative networks of circulation of goods that help explain episodes of warfare between Egypt and Libyan populations for their control

Ancient history · Biology · Complementarity (molecular biology · Desert (philosophy · Development economics · Economics · Ethnic group · Geography · Pastoralism · Political science · Sociology · Ancient Egypt and Archaeology · Anthropology · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Archaeology and Historical Studies · History