Anatolian mycenaean relations in the Late Bronze Age

At the beginning of the Late Bronze Age in Anatolia, mainland Greece and the Mediterranean basin experienced radical changes and in the period of time in these regions, new political formations have occurred. While in the Aegean basin the Minoan Civilization lost its power and gave place to Mycenaean political formation, in Anatolia the Hittite political hegemony has gained power. For the present, it is not possible to get certain knowledge on Mycenaean political culture which have expanded over the mainland Greece, the Aegean islands and the Eastern Mediterranean. Limited knowledge could be gained about how the Mycenaean culture has affected Anatolia. There is limited knowledge of western Anatolia that Mycenaean efficiency has observed intensely and there are different considerations on that. Whether there is a real sense of Mycenaean colony in Anatolia or not has been discussed for many years and quite different views on the issue have been proposed. However, for now beyond all question, all these discussions are the part of hypothesis. While Hittite dominance which has gained power in Anatolia has extended mostly over Mesopotamia and northern Syria, western Anatolia's rich resources have not been ignored and tried to keep under the control constantly. Another issue that offers important data for the period of time has been the Eastern Mediterranean trade. This trading system has included the long distance commerce of the powers within the different political frontiers. Importance of trading relations over the Mediterranean has become important in that period and the big political authorities such as Egypt, the Levant, Cyprus, Anatolia and Greece have played an important role in that network. Within that trading system, the traders have supplied raw materials for the near East developed culture and in return for that, they have been able to get luxury goods demanded by the western cultures. Key Words 1.Anatolia 2.Mycenaean 3.Late Bronze Age 4.Sea Trade 5.West Anatolia