Thin End of the Wedge

Author: Jon Taylor

Thin End of the Wedge explores life in the ancient Middle East. There are many wonderful stories we can tell about those people, their communities, the gritty reality of their lives, their hopes, fears and beliefs. We can do that through the objects they left behind and the cities where they once lived. Our focus is on the cultures that used cuneiform (wedge-shaped) writing, so mostly on ancient Iraq and nearby regions from about 3000 BC to about 100 AD. Thin End of the Wedge brings you expert insights and the latest research in clear and simple language. What do we know? How do we know anything? And why is what we know always changing? Why is any of this important today? We wont talk to you like youre stupid. But you wont need any special training to understand what were talking about. This is an independent production by me as an individual. It is not supported by my employer or any other organisation I am involved with, and the views expressed here do not necessarily reflect theirs.
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Genres: Education, History

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81. Lisa Wilhelmi: Bronze Age Diplomacy
Episode 81
Wednesday, 3 December, 2025

Lisa Wilhelmi discusses the international system in the ancient Middlle East. The 14th century BC tablets from Amarna in Egypt, and tablets from the royal archives in Hattusa (Türkiye), reveal diplomatic exchanges between the great powers that ruled the region. What did they want from each other? Who and what moved around, and why?2:00 what does "international" mean?3:09 what sources our sources say?5:22 were the letters preserved or did they just survive?6:50 what language do they use?8:37 were they equal partners?10:34 do resources buy membership of the great powers club?12:15 how did they talk to each other?14:35 what messages are they sending each other?16:38 political theatre?18:32 how princesses were chosen19:40 did princesses take part in the correspondence?20:13 why was cuneiform the method of communication?23:51 cultural exchange26:52 lost in translation?Lisa's university pageMusic by Ruba HillawiWebsite: http://wedgepod.orgYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSM7ZlAAgOXv4fbTDRyrWgwEmail: wedgepod@gmail.comPatreon: http://Patreon.com/WedgePod