ABSTRACT
In the centuries following 1500 BC many of the patterns of life which had emerged in the early second millennium continued to develop. Those occupying leading positions in society formalized and strengthened their roles, and while gold declined as an indicator of power, new symbols were adopted, notably fine bronzework and weaponry. This was not, however, a period of stagnation. Change was continuous and deep-rooted. By 600 BC the pattern of society prevailing a millennium earlier had completely altered, so much so that some writers have sought to identify discontinuities in the development of society through this period, largely without success. The key to changes during the period as a whole would seem to be society’s adaptability to available opportunities.
