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The Historical Context of Brotherhood The book weaves the following historical facts together into a story of religious conflict and political confrontation:
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2. Tyre, an ancient Phoenician sea trading power, was an ally of Egypt. Babylon laid siege to it in 588 BC. Brotherhood depicts Tyre using its economic power to influence Egyptian foreign policy.
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3. It is a historical fact that around 600 BC Pharaoh Necho began to build a canal allowing travel from the Nile through the Red Sea. Brotherhood shows Tyre behind the effort to fund this project.
4. Kush, Egypt's rival to the south attempted to gain territory from Egypt in the 590s BC. In Brotherhood, Babylon supports these efforts as a way to open a "second front" in its war with Egypt. 5. Faced with internal dissention and riots due to his expansionist policies in 594-3 BC, Nebuchadnezzar was forced to retrench from his invasion of Egypt. Brotherhood uses this historical fact to create the character of Hamon, the Babylonian chief priest who wishes to overthrow Nebuchadnezzar. Hamon sees Daniel as a rival who must be eliminated if he is to achieve his goal. |
