An Island Polity: The Archaeology of Exploitation in Melos
The Greek island of Melos in the Cyclades has been inhabited for at least five thousand years. Two periods of its history are well documented: the late Bronze Age, when it supported an important urban centre at Phylakopi and the late fifth century BC, when as an independent city-state it briefly defied and was then destroyed by the expansionist power of Athens. The case of Melos is thus relevant to the understanding of the processes of early state-formation and of the integration of small-scale societies into larger political units. As the contributors to this volume show, a small island provides a very suitable area - clearly defined, self-contained - in which to examine the processes of social, cultural and economic change and the forces - sometimes gradual and almost imperceptible in their effect, sometimes sudden and dramatic - by which changes are initiated.
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An Island Polity: The Archaeology of Exploitation in Melos
The Greek island of Melos in the Cyclades has been inhabited for at least five thousand years. Two periods of its history are well documented: the late Bronze Age, when it supported an important urban centre at Phylakopi and the late fifth century BC, when as an independent city-state it briefly defied and was then destroyed by the expansionist power of Athens. The case of Melos is thus relevant to the understanding of the processes of early state-formation and of the integration of small-scale societies into larger political units. As the contributors to this volume show, a small island provides a very suitable area - clearly defined, self-contained - in which to examine the processes of social, cultural and economic change and the forces - sometimes gradual and almost imperceptible in their effect, sometimes sudden and dramatic - by which changes are initiated.
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An Island Polity: The Archaeology of Exploitation in Melos

An Island Polity: The Archaeology of Exploitation in Melos

An Island Polity: The Archaeology of Exploitation in Melos

An Island Polity: The Archaeology of Exploitation in Melos

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Overview

The Greek island of Melos in the Cyclades has been inhabited for at least five thousand years. Two periods of its history are well documented: the late Bronze Age, when it supported an important urban centre at Phylakopi and the late fifth century BC, when as an independent city-state it briefly defied and was then destroyed by the expansionist power of Athens. The case of Melos is thus relevant to the understanding of the processes of early state-formation and of the integration of small-scale societies into larger political units. As the contributors to this volume show, a small island provides a very suitable area - clearly defined, self-contained - in which to examine the processes of social, cultural and economic change and the forces - sometimes gradual and almost imperceptible in their effect, sometimes sudden and dramatic - by which changes are initiated.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780521103909
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Publication date: 01/08/2009
Edition description: Reissue
Pages: 376
Product dimensions: 8.27(w) x 10.98(h) x 0.79(d)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: an initial perspective Colin Renfrew and Malcolm Wagstaff; Part I. The History of Society in Melos: 2. A preliminary definition of site distribution on Melos John F. Cherry; 3. The earliest prehistory of Melos John F. Cherry and Robin Torrence; 4. Bronze age Melos Colin Renfrew; 5. Classical and Roman Melos Brian A. Sparkes; 6. Post-Roman Melos Malcolm Wagstaff; Part II. Environmental System and Constraints: 7. The geology of Melos Peter Shelford; 8. Geomorphological evolution during the late Holocene Donald Davidson and Catriona Tasker; 9. Island resources and their limitations Malcolm Wagstaff and Clive Gamble; 10. Traditional land use Malcolm Wagstaff and Siv Augustson; Part III. Intra-Systemic Relations: 11. Settlement and population change Malcolm Wagstaff and John F. Cherry; 12. Early agriculture in Melos Jane M. Renfrew; 13. Animal husbandry, population and urbanisation Clive Gamble; 14. Alternative subsistence strategies Malcolm Wagstaff, Siv Augustson and Clive Gamble; Part IV. Inter-Systemic Relations: 15. The obsidian trade Peter Shelford, F. Hodson, M. E. Cosgrove, S. E. Warren and Colin Renfrew; 16. Prehistoric exchange Colin Renfrew; 17. Production and exchange in the classical and Roman periods Brian A. Sparkes; 18. Post-classical exchange Malcolm Wagstaff; Part V. Integration: 19. Settlement and resources Malcolm Wagstaff and John F. Cherry; 20. Polity and power: interaction, intensification and exploitation Colin Renfrew; Appendices; Bibliography; Index.
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