economyThis workshop aims to attract all those in Topoi (and beyond) interested in discussing and reflecting on diverse aspects of economic and political interaction in the ancient world, but choosing a specific focus to keep ourselves from wandering. Our concept is that by allowing ample time for both the invited participant speakers and those interested to pose questions and discuss some of the issues related to this theme, we can gain an idea of how one can develop certain approaches.

The workshop is organised with three days of papers and discussions centring on trade, trade networks, identities, etc., but concentrating specifically on contacts in the peripheral zones of ancient empires. We begin with a broad treatment of empires, states, and early trade from the 4th Millennium BC through the end of the Roman Empire. From there, we go on to discussions of models, themes, case studies, geographical issues, and theoretical approaches.

The workshop is meant to offer a platform for discussing and reflecting on the factors characterizing or distinguishing aspects of the ancient economies but narrowing down the focus to the question of the fringes (which necessarily allows room for issues relating to overall activity where relevant). Obviously, questions relating to the formation and transformation of economic space are central, but the discussions should hardly be restricted to this theme, as we must also accommodate identities and specialisation, etc. In principle, the relevance of networking, core-periphery relations and globalisation (insofar as this latter term can be viewed as justifiable) would have their place, but the nature of, e.g., borders may prove to be more important in determining behaviour. Thus one can go into depth or propose alternative paths to explore. For example, some types of interaction might have evolved so much that they are not really comparable, while other types might offer fundamental insights into the ancient world. And both issues are of considerable importance for understanding the ancient world – and how to approach it. Developments in identity, technology, skills and material culture are among the subjects discussed here.

The workshop is prefaced with an evening lecture (in German) on June 25 at 6:00 PM by M. Weszeli on water transport in Mesopotamia, illustrating one aspect of connections in these economies.

To facilitate our planning, please send a note to arianna.zischow@topoi.org by June 20, 2014, if you plan to attend the workshop.

Program

25.6.2014
18:00 - 20:00
Wassertransport in Mesopotamien in der Mittleren und Späten Bronze- sowie in der Eisenzeit
Lecture within the workshop "Economic and Political Interaction on the Edges of the Ancient Empires" and lecture series "Archäologie und Ökonomie" at the Topoi-Building Dahlem
Michaela Weszeli
26.6.2014
09:00 - 09:15
Greetings and Introduction
Kerstin P. Hofmann
Michael Meyer
David Alan Warburton
09:14 - 11:15
SESSION 1 – NATURE OF EMPIRES, ORIGINS OF STATES, TRADE SYSTEMS
Chair: Michael Meyer
09:15 - 09:45
Empires
Reinhard Bernbeck
09:45 - 10:15
Producing Income and Re-Producing Identity: The Long-Term Trajectory of a Mesopotamian Trade Diaspora in the 4th Millennium BC
Gil Stein
10:15 - 10:45
The Rise of Globalization: Long-Distance Trade and State Development in Western Asia, ca. 3000 - 1500 BCE
Gojko Barjamovic
10:45 - 11:45
Discussion
11:15 - 11:30
Coffee break
11:29 - 13:00
SESSION 2 – DETAILS OF EARLY TRADE SYSTEMS
Chair: Reinhard Bernbeck
11:30 - 12:00
Networks and Identities in an Early Bronze Age Metallurgical Centre at Çukuriçi Höyük in Western Anatolia
Barbara Horejs
12:00 - 12:30
Long-distance Trade and Identity: Cultural Encounters in Objects and Practice in Western Asia c. 2000-1500 BCE
Agnete Wisti Lassen
12:30 - 13:00
Discussion
13:00 - 14:00
Lunch break
13:59 - 16:00
SESSION 3 – MEDITERRANEAN, AEGEAN, LEVANT, EGYPT
Chair: Kerstin Hofmann
14:00 - 14:30
Identities and Exchange in the Minoan and Mycenaean Worlds
Irene Nikolakopoulou
14:30 - 15:00
Economics, Political Practices and Identities on the Nile: Convergence and Conflicts at the End of the Second Intermediate Period
Roxana Flammini
15:00 - 15:30
Central or Marginal? Insularity and Interaction in the Central Mediterranean Bronze Age
Helen Dawson
15:30 - 16:00
Discussion
16:00 - 16:15
Coffee break
16:14 - 18:00
SESSION 4 – EUROPEAN EMPIRES
16:15 - 16:45
Roman Imports in the Barbaricum: Economic Influences or Cultural Encounters?
Michael Meyer
Stefan Schreiber
16:45 - 17:15
Contested Borders, Contested Loyalties. The Ostrogothic Defense of the Hesperia
Kai Grundmann
17:15 - 17:45
Variations on a Theme of Empire: Comparing Mediterranean Imperial Systems in the Longue Durée
John Bintliff
17:45 - 18:15
Discussion
27.6.2014
09:59 - 11:45
SESSION 5 – MODELS
10:00 - 10:30
Tracing Networks: Crafts, Knowledge and the Movement of Ideas in Antiquity
Lin Foxhall
10:30 - 11:00
Changing Commerce and Merchant Power in the Indian Ocean: Impacts on Afro-Asian Core and Peripheral Polities, ca. 300 BCE - 1800 CE.
Rahul Oka
11:00 - 11:45
Discussion
11:45 - 12:30
Lunch break
12:30 - 14:30
Discussion: World Systems and Networking
Chair: Helen Dawson
14:30 - 15:00
Coffee break
15:00 - 17:00
Discussion: Central Place and Central Flow; Markets
Chair: Daniel Knitter
19:00 - 22:00
Dinner
28.6.2014
10:00 - 12:00
Discussion: Borders (Temporal, Geographical, Ethnical, etc.)
Chair: David Warburton
12:00 - 12:30
Lunch break
12:30 - 14:30
Discussion: Comparing Anatolian Interaction with Interaction along the Limes in Germany/ Europe
Chair: Michael Meyer
14:30 - 14:45
Coffee break
14:45 - 16:45
Discussion: Diasporas
Chair: Gil Stein
16:45 - 17:00
Coffee break
17:00 - 19:00
Discussion: Innovations and Skills
Chair: Christian Barth