Why did ancient states collapse? : the dysfunctional state
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Ancient states were rooted in agriculture, sedentism and population growth. They were fragile and prone to collapse, but there is no consensus on the causes or meaning of collapse, and there is an ongoing debate about the importance, nature and even existence of state-wide collapse
Explanations of collapse in terms of competing mono-causal factors are found inferior to those incorporating dynamic, interactive systems. It is proposed that collapse should be explained as failure to fulfil the ancient state’s core functions: assurance of food supplies, defence against external attack, maintenance of internal peace, imposition of its will throughout its territory, enforcement of state-wide laws, and promotion of an ideology to legitimise the political and social status quo.
To fulfil these functions certain necessary conditions must be met. The legitimacy of the political and social status quo, including the distribution of political power and wealth, needs to be accepted; the state should be able to extract sufficient resources to fulfil its functions such as defence; it must be able to enforce its decisions; the ruling elite should share a common purpose and actions; the society needs to reflect a shared spirit (asibaya) and purpose across elites and commoners who believe it is worthy of defence.
Weaknesses and failure to meet any condition can interact to exacerbate the situation: maladministration, corruption and elite preoccupation with self aggrandisement can induce fiscal weakness, reduced military budgets and further invasion; it can induce neglect of key infrastructures (especially water management). Inequality, a commonly neglected factor despite ancient texts, can erode asibaya and legitimacy and alienate commoners from defence of the state.
These themes are explored in relation to the Egyptian Old Kingdom, Mycenae, the Western Roman Empire (WRE), and the Maya. They all exhibit, to varying degrees, weaknesses in meeting the above conditions necessary for stability. (Some of the explanatory political and social factors involved have modern analogies but that issue is not examined).
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES TIME MAKE? : papers from the ancient and Islamic middle
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Proceedings of a conference held at St. Mary's University in Notre Dame, Indiana (2017), this volume presents a wide-ranging exploration of Time as experienced and contemplated. Included are offerings on ancient Mesopotamian archaeology, literature and religion, Biblical texts and archaeology, Chinese literature and philosophy, and Islamic law.
Urban Landscape of Bakchias: A Town of the Fayyum from the Ptolemaic-Roman Period to Late Antiquity
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This book aims to summarise the results of field research – as well as historical, historico-religious and papyrological studies – conducted on the archaeological site of Bakchias, located in the north-eastern part of the Fayyūm region. It represents a revised and re-arranged version of the book edited by the same Authors in 2014.
Current perspectives in Sudanese and Nubian archaeology : a collection of papers presented at the 2018 Sudan Studies Research Conference, Cambridge
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Foreword - Kate Spence ; Sudanese and Nubian Archaeology: Scholarship Past and Present - Rennan Lemos and Samantha Tipper ; Libations and Luxury: the Use of Pilgrim Flasks in Nubia - Loretta Kilroe ; Understanding the Kerma Amulets: the Ladder and Baboon Amulet-Beads - Elena D'Itria ; A-Group Nubian Glyptic: Analysis and Preliminary Results - Siobhan Shinn ; The Dead and their Tools. A First Approach to the Relationship Between Macro-Lithic Tools and Skeletons from the Necropolis of Mahal Teglinos (Eastern Sudan) - Francesco Michele Rega, Eleonora Minucci and Giusy Capasso ; Human Population History from an East African Perspective: the Forgotten Land - Hisham M. Eldai and Hiba Babiker.
Professor Challenger and his lost Neolithic world : the compelling story of Alexander Thom and British archaeoastronomy
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'Professor Challenger and his Lost Neolithic World' combines the two great passions of the author's life: reconstructing the Neolithic mind and constructively challenging consensus in his professional domain. The book is semi-autobiographical, charting the author's investigation of Alexander Thom's theories, in particular regarding the alignment of prehistoric monuments in the landscape, across a number of key Neolithic sites from Kintraw to Stonehenge and finally Orkney. It maps his own perspective of the changing reception to Thom's ideas by the archaeological profession from initial curiosity and acceptance to increasing scepticism.
New frontiers in archaeology : proceedings of the Cambridge Annual Student Archaeology Conference 2019
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This volume is the result of the Cambridge Annual Student Archaeology Conference (CASA), held at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research from September 13?15, 2019. CASA developed out of the Annual Student Archaeology Conference, first held in 2013, which was formed by students at Cambridge, Oxford, Durham and York. In 2017, Cambridge became the home of the conference and the name was changed accordingly. The conference was developed to give students (from undergraduate to PhD candidates) in archaeology and related fields the chance to present their research to a broad audience.0The theme for the 2019 conference was New Frontiers in Archaeology and this volume presents papers from a wide range of topics such as new geographical areas of research, using museum collections and legacy data, new ways to teach archaeology and new scientific or theoretic paradigms. From hunting and gathering in the Neolithic to the return of artefacts to Turkey, the papers contained within show a great variety in both geography and chronology. Discussions revolve around access to data, the role of excavation in today?s archaeology, the role of local communities in archaeological interpretation and how we can ask new questions of old data. This volume presents 18 papers arranged in the six sessions with the two posters in their thematic sessions
An educator's handbook for teaching about the ancient world. Volume I
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With the right methods, studying the ancient world can be as engaging as it is informative. Many K-12 teachers, university instructors, and museum educators use hands-on, project-based, and experiential activities in their classes to increase student engagement and learning. This book aims to bring together such pedagogical methods and teaching activities about the ancient world for any educator to use. The teaching activities in this book are designed in a cookbook format so that educators can replicate these teaching 'recipes' (which include materials, budget, preparation time, levels of students) in their ancient art, archaeology, social studies, and history classes. They can be implemented online or in-person, in schools, universities, libraries, museums, or at home.
Mapping the past : from sampling sites and landscapes to exploring the 'archaeological continuum' : proceedings of the XVIII UISPP World Congress (4-8 June 2108, Paris, France). $n...
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Session VIII-1 of UISPP 2018 in Paris ?Mapping the Past? brought together several contributions reflecting on the need to develop sustainable and reliable approaches to mapping our landscape heritage. The session was guided by the crucial concept termed the ?archaeological continuum?. This concept can be defined as a proactive approach to landscape survey based on the summative evidence detected (or detectable) within the area under examination, reducing spatial and chronological gaps as far as possible through the intensive and extensive application of a wide variety of exploratory methods and analytical techniques. Research work across Europe as well as contributions presented in this session have demonstrated that it is now possible to explore the whole landscape of carefully chosen areas and study them as an archaeological continuum. Archaeological interpretations derived from this kind of approach can be expected to reveal different layers of information belonging to a variety of chronological horizons, each displaying mutual physical (stratigraphic) and conceptual relationships within that horizon. The raising of new archaeological questions and also the development of alternative conservation strategies directly stimulated by the radical ideas inherent in the concept of the ?archaeological continuum? are among the major outcomes of the session
Glazed brick decoration in the Ancient Near East proceedings of a workshop at the 11th International Congress of the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (Munich) in April 2018 : f...
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Glazed bricks applied as a new form of colourful and glossy architectural decor first started to appear in the early Iron Age on monumental buildings of the Ancient Near East. This volume provides an updated overview of the development of glazed bricks and scientific research on the topic.
On the origins of the cartouche and encircling symbolism in Old Kingdom pyramids
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This study suggests the development of the cartouche was closely related to the monumental encircling symbolism incorporated into the architectural designs of the Old Kingdom pyramids. By employing a new architectural style and a new iconographic symbol, the pharaoh sought to elevate his status above that of the members of his powerful court.
Aristotle's Μετεωρολογικά : meteorology then and now
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Examining the meteorological aspects of Aristotle's work published as "Meteorologica" books A-D, the authors also ask how they compare now with our understanding of meteorology and climate change. In other words, how well did Aristotle fair when he tried to explain weather 2,300 years ago when there was only logic, eye observation, and past experience, with only primitive instrumentation and a few personalized measurements? While there are scientific issues behind Aristotle's writings, this book is written for the non-specialist. The book uses simple examples to present its case, which will be easily followed by general readers.
Searching for the 17t Century on Nevis : the survey and excavation of two early plantation... sites
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'Searching for the 17th Century on Nevis' is the first of a series of monographs dedicated to the archaeological investigation of the landscape, buildings and artefacts of the Eastern Caribbean by the Nevis Heritage Project. This volume presents the results of documentary research and excavation on two sugar plantation sites on the island of Nevis