Who Were the Sea Peoples?

There are many enigmatic ancient civilizations about which we know very little, but few have had a greater influence on history than the Sea Peoples. The Sea Peoples were a group of seafaring countries that unexpectedly arose in the Mediterranean during the 12th century BC. They waged war on anyone who stood in their way, including the Greeks, Egyptians, and Phoenicians.

Since the Egyptians and Sea Peoples frequently clashed under the rule of Ramses II and Ramses III, they are the ones who have given us the most thorough accounts of the Sea Peoples. They gave names to several of the factions that comprised this warring confederation, such the Tjeker and the Sherden, but this hasn't enabled us to determine where they came from. The invasions of the Sea Peoples are widely recognized as one of the major causes of the demise of the Late Bronze Age, but nothing is known about their identities, goals, or ultimate fate.