THE SOUTHERN AEGEAN SYSTEM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5195/jwsr.1999.123Abstract
Although world-systems theory was originally formulated with our modern economic system in mind (Wallerstein 1974), it was not long before archaeologists began to apply it to ancient societies. Archaeologists and world-system theorists alike both argued that Wallerstein had disregarded evidence of interconnected, hierarchical systems in prehistoric times (Schneider 1977; Chase-Dunn & Hall 1991, 1997; Kardulias 1999a). Pailes and Whitecotton (1979) were among the first to modify world-systems theory for use in pre-capitalist settings. Since then many archaeologists have looked at data and regions with a world-systems perspective in mind (e.g. Champion 1989; Bilde et al. 1993; Rowlands & Larsen 1987; Kardulias 1999a). Some have attempted to map Wallerstein's theory directly onto prehistory (Kohl 1979; Whitecotton & Pailes 1986; Ekholm & Friedman 1982). Others have found the world systems model heuristically useful but lacking the analytical power needed for their prehistoric cases (Blanton et al. 1981; Upham 1982; Plog 1983; Alcock 1993). Building on the assumption that ancient societies were not qualitatively, but only quantitatively, different from modern capitalist ones (Schneider 1977; Sherratt & Sherratt 1991), this study applies world systems theory to the Southern Aegean during the Middle and Late Bronze Age (ca. 2000-1550 BC).References
S.E. Alcock (1993). Surveying the Peripheries of the Hellenistic World. In: P. Bilde, T. Engberg-Pedersen, L. Hannestad, et al. (eds.), Centre and Periphery in the Hellenistic World. Aarhus: Aarhus University Press. pp. 162-175.
P. Bilde, T. Engberg-Pedersen, L. Hannestad, et al. (eds.) (1993). Centre and Periphery in the Hellenistic World. Aarhus: Aarhus University Press.
R.J. Buck (1962/63). The Minoan Thalassocracy Re-examined. Historia, 11, 129-137.
R.E. Blanton, S.A. Kowalewski, G. Feinman, et al. (1981). Ancient Mesoamerica : A Comparison of Change in Three Regions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
C. Broodbank (1993). Ulysses Without Sails: Trade , Distance, Knowledge and Power in the Early Cyclades. World Archaeology, 24, 315-331.
T.C. Champion (ed.) (1989a). Centre and Periphery: Comparative Studies in Archaeology . London: Routledge.
T.C. Champion (1989b). Introduction. In: T.C. Champion (ed.), Centre and Periphery:Comparative Studies in Archaeology . London: Routledge. pp. 1-21.
C. Chase-Dunn and T.D. Hall (1991). Conceptualizing Core/Periphery Hierarchies for Comparative Study. In: C. Chase-Dunn and T.D. Hall (eds.), Core/Periphery Relations in
Precapitalist Worlds. Boulder: Westview. pp. 5-44.
C. Chase-Dunn and T.D. Hall (1997). Rise and Demise. Comparing World -Systems. Boulder: Westview.
J.F. Cherry and J.L. Davis ( 1982). The Cyclades and the Greek Mainland in LCI: The Evidence of Pottery. American Journal of Archaeology, 86, 333-341.
W.W. Cummer and E. Schofield (1984). Ayia lrini: House A. Main z: von Zabern.
J.L. Davis (1979). Minos and Dexithea: Crete and the Cyclades in the Later Bronze Age. In: J.L. Davis and J.F. Cherry (eds.), Papers in Cycladic Prehistory. Los Angeles: Institute of Archaeology. pp. 143-157.
J.L. Davis (1984). Cultural Innovation and the Minoan Thalassocracy at Ayia Irini, Keos. In: R. Hagg and N. Marinatos (eds.), The Alinoan Thalassocracy : Myth and Reality.
Proceedings of the Third International Symposium at the Swedish Institute in Athens, 31 May-5 June, 1982, Skrifter Utgivna av Svenska lnstitutet i Athen. 4. Stockholm: Svenska
lnstitutet i Athen. pp. 159-166.
J.L. Davis and H.B. Lewis (1985). Mechanization of Pottery Production: A Case Study from the Cycladic Islands. In: A.B. Knapp and T. Stech (eds.), Prehistoric Production and Exchange. The Aegean and the Mediterranean. Los Angeles: Institute of
Archaeology, University of Los Angeles. pp. 79-92.
K. Ekholm and J. Friedman (1982). 'Capital', Imperialism and Exploitation in Ancient World Systems. Review, 4, 87-109.
A. Evans (1921-1935). The Palace of Minos at Knossos. London: Macmillan & Co.
T.D. Hall (1999). World-Systems and Evolution: An Appraisal. In: P.N. Kardulias (ed.),World-Systems Theory in Practice. New York: Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 1-24.
S. Hiller (1984). Pax Minoica versus Minoan Thalassocracy. ln: R. Hagg and N. Marinatos (eds.), The Minoan Thalassocracy: Myth and Reality. Proceedings of the Third International Symposium at the Swedish Institute in Athens, 31 May-5 June, 1982,
Skrifter Utgivna av Svenska lnstitutet i Athen. 4. Stockholm: Svenska lnstitutet i Athen. pp. 27-31.
S. Hood (1984). A Minoan Empire in the Aegean in the 16th and 15th Centuries B.C.? ln: R. Hagg and N. Marinatos (eds.), The Minoan Thalassocracy: Myth and Reality. Proceedings of the Third International Symposium at the Swedish Institute in Athens, 31
lvfay-5 June, 1982, Skrifter Utgivna av Svenska lnstitutet i Athen. 4. Stockholm: Svenska lnstitutet i Athen. pp. 33-37.
S. Hood (1990). The Cretan Element on Thera in LMlA. ln: D.A. Hardy, J. Keller, V.P. Galanopoulos, et al. (eds.), Thera and the Aegean World III. Proceedings of the Third International Congress, Santorini, Greece, 6-9 September, 1989, London: Thera Foundation. pp. 118-123.
P.N. Kardulias (1999a). World-Systems Theory in Practice. New York: Rowman & Littlefield.
P.N. Kardulias (1999b). Multiple Levels in the Aegean Bronze Age World-System. In: P.N. Kardulias (ed.), World-Systems Theory in Practice. New York: Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 179-202.
P. Kohl (1979). The 'World Economy' of West A~ia in the Third Millennium B.C. ln: M. Taddei (ed.), South Asian Archaeology. Naples: lstituto Universitario Orientale. pp. 55-85.
P. Kohl (1987). The Ancient Economy, Transferable Technologies and the Bronze Age World-System: A View from the Northeastern Frontier of the Ancient Near East. ln: M. Rowlands, M. Larsen and K. Kristiansen (eds.), Centre and Periphery in the Ancient
World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 13-24.
N. Marinatos (1984). Minoan Threskeiocracy on Thera. In: R. Hagg and N. Marinatos (eds.), The Minoan Thalassocracy: Myth and Reality. Proceedings of 'the Third International Symposium at the Swedish Institute in Athens, 31 May-5 June, 1982, Skrifter Utgivna av Svenska lnstitutet i Athen. 4. Stockholm: Svenska lnstitutet i Athen. pp. 167-178.
N. Marinatos (1990). Minoan-Cycladic Syncretism. In: D.A. Hardy, J. Keller, V.P. Galanopoulos, et al. (eds.), Thera and the Aegean World III. Proceedings of'the Third International Congress, Santorini, Greece, 6-9 September, 1989. London: Thera Foundation. pp. 370-376.
E.M. Melas (1990). Acculturation and Social Mobility in the Minoan World. In: R. Laffineur and L. Basch ( eds.), Thalassa. L 'Egeen Prehistorique et la lvier. Actes de la troisieme Rencontre egeenne internationale de /'Universite de Liege, Station de
recherches sous-marines et oceanographiques (StaReSO), Calvi, Corse (23-25 avril 1990), Aegaeum 7. Liege: Universite de Liege. pp. 169-188.
P.A. Mountjoy (1993). Mycenaean Pottery. An Introduction. Oxford: Oxbow.
R.A. Pailcs and J.W. Whitecotton (1979). The Greater Southwest and the Mesoamerican World System: An Exploratory Model of Frontier Relationships. In: J. W.W. Savage and S.I. Thompson (eds.), The Frontier: Comparative Studies. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 105-121.
J.D.S. Pendlcbury ( 1939). The Archaeology of' Crete. An Introduction. London: Methuen.
F. Plog (1983). Political and Economic Alliances on the Colorado Plateau AD. 400 to 1450. Advances in World Archaeology, 2, 289-330.
AC. Renfrew (1977b). Alternative Models for Exchange and Spatial Distribution. In: T.K. Earle and J.E. Ericson (eds.), Exchange Systems in Prehistory. New York: Academic Press. pp. 71-90.
M. Rowlands, M. Larsen and K. Kristiansen (eds.) (1987). Centre and Periphery in the Ancient World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
J. Schneider (1977). Was There aPrecapitalist World-System? Peasant Studies, 6, 20-29.
E. Schofield (1990). Evidence for Household Industries on Thera and Keos. In: D.A. Hardy, J. Keller, V.P. Galanopoulos, et al. (eds.), Thera and the Aegean World III. Proceedings of the Third International Congress, Santorini, Greece, 6-9 September,
, London: TheraFoundation. pp. 201-211.
E. Schortman and P. Urban (I 987). Modeling Interregional Interaction in Prehistory. ln: M.B. Schiffer (cd.),Advances in Archaeological Method and Theory. New York: Academic Press. pp. 37-95.
E.M. Schortman and P.A. Urban (I 994). Living on the Edge. Core/Periphery Relations in Ancient Southeastern Mesoamerica. Current Anthropology, 35, 401-430.
T.R. Shannon (I 989). An Introduction to the World-Systems Perspective. San Francisco: Westview
A. Sherratt and S. Sherratt (I 991). From Luxuries to Commodities: The Nature of Mediterranean Bronze Age Trading Systems. In: N.H. Gale (ed.), Bronze Age Trade in the Mediterranean. Papers Presented at the Conference Held at Rewley House, Oxford in December 1989. Jonered: Astrom. pp. 351-386.
G. Shipley (I 993). Distance, Development, Decline? World-Systems Analysis and the "Hellenistic" World. In: P. Bilde, T. Engberg-Pedersen, L. Hannestad, et al. (eds.), Centre and Periphery in the Hellenistic World. Aarhus: Aarhus University Press. pp. 271-284.
G.J. Stein (1999). Rethinking World-System~: Power, Distance, and Diasporas in the Dynamics of Interregional Interaction. In: P.N. Kardulias (ed.), World-Systems Theory in Practice. New York: Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 153-177.
l. Strom (1984). Aspects of Minoan Foreign Relations, LMI - LMll. ln: R. Hagg and N.Marinatos (eds.), The Minoan Thalassocracy: Myth and Reality. Proceedings of the Third International Symposium at the Swedish Institute in Athens, May-5 June, 1982,
Skriftcr Utgivna av Svenska lnstitutet i Athen. 4. Stockholm: Svenska lnstitutet i Athen. pp. 191-195.
S. Upham (1982). Politics and Power. New York: Academic Press.
L. Vagnctti (1993). Mycenaean Pottery in Italy: Fifty Years of Study. In: C. Zerner and J. Winder (eds.), Wace and Blegen: Pottery as Evidence.for Trade in the Aegean Bronze Age 1939-1989. Proceedings of the International Conference Held at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, December 2.-3., 1989, Amsterdam: Gieben. pp. 143-154.
l. Wallerstein (I 974 ). The Modern World-System: Toward a Critique. San Diego: Academic Press.
J.W. Whitecotton and R.A. Pailes (1986). New World Prccolumbian World Systems. In: F.J. Mathien and R.H. McGuire (eds.),Ripples in the Chichimec Sea: New Considerations of Southwestern-Mesoamerican Interactions. Carbondale: Southern
lllinois University Press. pp. 183-204.
M.H. Wiener (1990). The Isles of Crete? The Minoan Thalassocracy Revisited. In: D.A. Hardy, J. Keller, V.P. Galanopoulos, et al. (eds.), Thera and the Aegean World III. Proceedings of the Third International Congress, Santorini, Greece, 6-9 September,
, London: TheraFoundation. pp. 128-161.
D. Wilkinson (1991 ). Cores, Peripheries, and Civilizations. In: C. Chase-Dunn and T.D. Hall (eds.), Core/Periphery Relations in Precapitalist Worlds. Boulder: Westview. pp. 113-166.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- The Author retains copyright in the Work, where the term “Work” shall include all digital objects that may result in subsequent electronic publication or distribution.
- Upon acceptance of the Work, the author shall grant to the Publisher the right of first publication of the Work.
- The Author shall grant to the Publisher and its agents the nonexclusive perpetual right and license to publish, archive, and make accessible the Work in whole or in part in all forms of media now or hereafter known under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License or its equivalent, which, for the avoidance of doubt, allows others to copy, distribute, and transmit the Work under the following conditions:
- Attribution—other users must attribute the Work in the manner specified by the author as indicated on the journal Web site;
- The Author is able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the nonexclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the Work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), as long as there is provided in the document an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post online a prepublication manuscript (but not the Publisher’s final formatted PDF version of the Work) in institutional repositories or on their Websites prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work. Any such posting made before acceptance and publication of the Work shall be updated upon publication to include a reference to the Publisher-assigned DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and a link to the online abstract for the final published Work in the Journal.
- Upon Publisher’s request, the Author agrees to furnish promptly to Publisher, at the Author’s own expense, written evidence of the permissions, licenses, and consents for use of third-party material included within the Work, except as determined by Publisher to be covered by the principles of Fair Use.
- The Author represents and warrants that:
- the Work is the Author’s original work;
- the Author has not transferred, and will not transfer, exclusive rights in the Work to any third party;
- the Work is not pending review or under consideration by another publisher;
- the Work has not previously been published;
- the Work contains no misrepresentation or infringement of the Work or property of other authors or third parties; and
- the Work contains no libel, invasion of privacy, or other unlawful matter.
- The Author agrees to indemnify and hold Publisher harmless from Author’s breach of the representations and warranties contained in Paragraph 6 above, as well as any claim or proceeding relating to Publisher’s use and publication of any content contained in the Work, including third-party content.
Revised 7/16/2018. Revision Description: Removed outdated link.
