Distribution de l’information et stratégies relationnelles dans le corpus de correspondances amarniennes : approche par l’analyse de réseaux

This study employs network analysis to investigate the relationships between the great kings of the Near East (Egypt, Mitanni, Hatti, Alashiya, Babylonia) and the mayors of the Syro-Palestinian region from the very end of Amenhotep III’s reign to the beginning of the reign of Amenhotep IV-Akhenaten. Data are extracted from a sample of 83 letters from the el-Amarna corpus of correspondence discovered in Egypt (14th century B.C.). We focus on the distribution of information (actors and links) in the Amarna letters and how this distribution influences the shape of the Egyptian king’s personal network. By means of a holistic approach, we highlight different groups of interactions and analyse their relational properties. We also show which type of interaction is predominant according to each group. Observations suggest that trade flows monopolised the attention of the great kings, who organised their close networks around these exchanges. On the other hand, the mayors of the Syro-Palestinian corridor are integrated into a network structured around war-related concerns. The study concludes by discussing possible developments based on this dataset.