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Assyria to Iberia : at the dawn of the Classical Age /
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"This comprehensive book explores the spectacular art of the first millennium B.C. from the Near East to Western Europe. This was the world of Odysseus, in which trade proliferated with Phoenician merchants; of King Midas, whose tomb was adorned with treasures; and of the Bible, whose stories are illuminated by recent artistic and archaeological discoveries. It was also a time of rich cultural exchange across the Mediterranean and Near East as diverse populations interacted through trade, travel and migration. This book showcases masterpieces that reflect the cultural encounters of this era. Stunning details convey the significance of more than 300 objects drawn from collections around the globe. These objects include carved reliefs from the majestic palaces of ancient Assyria, Phoenician fine bronze metalwork and carved ivories, Egyptian statues, and luxurious jewelry. Texts by over 80 international scholars provide a compelling picture of this fascinating period, one that is essential to understanding the origins of Western culture and art." -- Publisher's website.
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Catalog of an exhibition held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, September 22, 2014-January 4, 2015. :
xvii, 421 pages : color illustrations, maps, plans ; 31 cm. :
Includes bibliographical references (pages 376-411) and index. :
9780300208085
1588395383
9781588395382
Scramble for the past : a story of archaeology in the Ottoman Empire,1753-1914 /
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"This book has been published on the occasion of the exhibition 'Scramble for the Past: A Story of Archaeology in the Ottoman Empire, 1753-1914,' at SALT Galata, Istanbul, November 22, 2011-March 11, 2012"--T.p. verso.
Also published in Turkish as: Geçmişe hücum : Osmanıt İmparatorluğu'nda arkeolojinin öyküsü, 1753-1914. :
519 pages : illustrations (some color), facsims, color maps ; 25 cm. :
Includes bibliographical references. :
9789944731270
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).