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The ancient Canaanites did not wield the military or diplomatic power of other peoples in the ancient Near East, but they nonetheless still played a major role in the historical development of the region. The Canaanites’ role as vassals to the Egyptians and Hittites was important because they served as a buffer zone between the two powerful states and also sometimes as an instigator of conflicts. Perhaps the most profound influence the Canaanites had on the history of the ancient Near East was cultural, particularly in the realm of language and religion because their form of writing, as well as some of their deities, were adopted by other peoples. Truly, the Canaanites an extremely crucial role in the historical process of the the Bronze Age Near East. {{Contributors}}