How the Amber Trade Transformed Prehistoric Europe

Start speaking a new language in 3 weeks with Babbel 🎉. Get up to 55% OFF ➡️ Here: https://bit.ly/DanDavisHistoryDec Over three thousand years ago, the societies of bronze age Europe were all connected by a complex network of trade routes, exchanging all manner of raw materials and beautiful products like amber. But when did this trade start? Why was amber so valuable? How far did Baltic amber travel? What goods and ideas flowed in return? And how did this trade transform these Bronze Age societies? This is the story of the Amber Road. *If you enjoy my videos please consider supporting the channel* Become a YouTube Channel Member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUVwT8zcS5Z_rYXnpomlbfg/join Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dandavisauthor All my books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xngwz5 *Sources* The Oxford Handbook of Neolithic Europe https://amzn.to/43eSVRO Trade before Civilization https://amzn.to/4pMC6az The Rise of Bronze Age Society https://amzn.to/4pcEWFS Organizing Bronze Age Societies https://amzn.to/4pIpgtQ Murillo-Barroso, M., Cólliga, A.M. & Martinón-Torres, M. The earliest Baltic amber in Western Europe. Sci Rep 13, 14250 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41293-0 Kristiansen K, Suchowska-Ducke P. Connected Histories: the Dynamics of Bronze Age Interaction and Trade 1500–1100 bc. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society. 2015;81:361-392. doi:10.1017/ppr.2015.17 Kaul F. Middle Bronze Age Long-Distance Exchange: Amber, Early Glass and Guest Friendship, Xenia. In: Ling J, Chacon RJ, Kristiansen K, eds. Trade before Civilization: Long Distance Exchange and the Rise of Social Complexity. Cambridge University Press; 2022:109-141. Curt W. Beck, Gretchen C. Southard, Audrey B. Adams, Analysis and Provenience of Minoan and Mycenaean Amber, IV. Mycenae (1974) T. Zygouris, Amber in the Mycenaean world and in the Balkan Peninsula during the 2nd millennium BC (2019) E. Elora H. Kuhn et al, Establishing the Baltic origins of archaeological amber beads from Dura-Europos (Syria) using non-destructive DRIFTS, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2023.103938. Graciela Noemi Gestoso Singer, Amber exchange in the Late Bronze Age Levant in Cross-cultural Perspective (2016) Jeanette Varberg, Flemming Kaul & Bernard Gratuze, Bronze Age Glass and Amber, Evidence of Bronze Age long distance exchange (2019) Amir Zaribaf, et al, Non-destructive analysis of archaeological amber from Iron Age Kerkenes in central Anatolia, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104968. Ivana Angelini and Massimo Vidale, “The Bronze age amber industry in northern Italy in light of highresolution 3D imaging”, 2023.: https://doi.org/10.4000/archeosciences.8024 Veil S, Breest K, Grootes P, Nadeau M-J, Hüls M. A 14 000-year-old amber elk and the origins of northern European art. Antiquity. 2012;86(333):660-673. doi:10.1017/S0003598X00047839 National Museum of Denmark: https://en.natmus.dk/historical-knowledge/denmark/ Kerig T, Hilpert J, Strohm S, et al. Interlinking research: the Big Exchange project. Antiquity. 2023;97(394):e22. doi:10.15184/aqy.2023.78 The above includes affiliate links so we may make a small commission from your purchases at no additional cost to you which is a way to support the channel. *Thank you* Artistic reconstructions by Ancient Europeans https://www.instagram.com/ancienteuropeans2/ Nordic Bronze Age canoe war band art by Hodari https://x.com/hodarinundu *Video Chapters* 00:00 The Amber Road 01:34 Sponsorship 03:07 What is amber? 04:50 Prehistoric exchange networks 06:30 Bronze Age amber 08:58 The amber road routes 12:00 Amber in the Mediterranean 13:23 Warrior-traders 16:41 The end of the road