jjares reviewed The Gutians: The History and Legacy of the Asian Nomads Who Spread across the Near East in Antiquity on + 3263 more book reviews
Coming down out of the Zagros Mountains (of Modern Iran), the Gutians were hordes of East Asian nomads who spread across the Near East in the 2000s BCE. Compared to the sedentary tribes they infiltrated, they were considered barbarians with no sense of cultural or religious sophistication. Because the Gutians had no written language, scholars must eke out their history from their enemies (who did leave historical reports).
Because Mesopotamia, at the time of the Gutian's arrival, was a hodge-podge of dynasties and city-states, the Akkadians used some of them as mercenaries in their wars. Interestingly, according to the records, the Gutians invaded Mesopotamia twice. The sedentary people there looked on the Gutians as vengeance from the gods for misbehavior or a lack of adherence to religious principles.
The Gutians seemed to have assimilated with the sedentary groups there because there are no religious or cultural artifacts remaining (or mentioned). Their dynasty only lasted about 100 years. Oddly enough, the Gutians left no archaeological footprint. When the Kassites arrived in Mesopotamia and took over the Babylonian Empire, the Gutians remained on the fringes of the area for another 1000 years.
For people interested in the ancient history of Mesopotamia, the author takes considerable effort to explain the geopolitical pressures on the region during this time. This is another great Charles Rives Editors publication.
Because Mesopotamia, at the time of the Gutian's arrival, was a hodge-podge of dynasties and city-states, the Akkadians used some of them as mercenaries in their wars. Interestingly, according to the records, the Gutians invaded Mesopotamia twice. The sedentary people there looked on the Gutians as vengeance from the gods for misbehavior or a lack of adherence to religious principles.
The Gutians seemed to have assimilated with the sedentary groups there because there are no religious or cultural artifacts remaining (or mentioned). Their dynasty only lasted about 100 years. Oddly enough, the Gutians left no archaeological footprint. When the Kassites arrived in Mesopotamia and took over the Babylonian Empire, the Gutians remained on the fringes of the area for another 1000 years.
For people interested in the ancient history of Mesopotamia, the author takes considerable effort to explain the geopolitical pressures on the region during this time. This is another great Charles Rives Editors publication.
