16 Amorites from alalakh turkey, 23andme format

The Amorites were a Semitic-speaking people who emerged in the Near East during the late third millennium BCE. Their language, known as Amorite, is classified as an early Northwest Semitic language and is preserved in proper names recorded in Akkadian texts. The Amorites were initially a nomadic or semi-nomadic group, later settling in regions such as modern-day Syria, northern Mesopotamia, and parts of the Levant. By the early second millennium BCE, they played a significant role in Mesopotamian history, establishing influential kingdoms, including the famous city-state of Babylon under King Hammurabi, an Amorite ruler.

The Amorites are prominently featured in Mesopotamian records, where they were initially regarded as outsiders and often described as pastoralists. Over time, they assimilated into urbanized cultures and contributed significantly to the region's political and cultural landscape. Archaeological evidence associated with the Amorites includes cuneiform tablets documenting legal, administrative, and commercial activities, as well as architectural remnants from cities like Mari and Babylon. They built ziggurats, temples, and city walls, leaving a legacy of urban development that influenced subsequent civilizations.

The Amorite way of life evolved as they transitioned from pastoral nomadism to urban settlement. Initially known for their reliance on livestock and seasonal migration, they later adopted agricultural practices and established thriving trade networks. Their integration into Mesopotamian society is evident in their contributions to law, such as Hammurabi's Code, one of the earliest known legal codices. The Amorites' rise to power marks a pivotal era in Near Eastern history, bridging the collapse of the Akkadian Empire and the emergence of Babylon as a dominant force.

For this video, I gathered the raw genomes of 16 Amorites from the city of Alalakh in Turkey, and ran them through my trait predictor tool for DNA analysis.