Qatna and Mari: The History of Ancient Syria's Most Important Cities

For a period of just under 100 years, the city of Mari in northern Mesopotamia-eastern Syria was one of the most important cities in the Near East. Mari was ruled by a dynasty of powerful Amorite kings who were not afraid to use their military power to keep subordinate provinces in line and their enemies at bay, but more often, they relied upon a combination of diplomacy and trade to establish their dominance. Founded by semi-nomadic Amorite tribes, Mari was gradually transformed over the ...