Kin terminology and the study of kinship: A case study on the Greek island of Syros (1750–1820)

Abstract

This historical–anthropological study of kinship on the Greek island of Syros examines kin terminology as an indicator of relationships. These terms have been traced in a series of notarial acts dating from 1750 to 1820. Departing from the case study, certain elements of the system of kin terminology have been placed in a broader territorial and cultural context. The aim of this comparative analysis is to achieve a deeper understanding of kinship on the microlevel of the case study. From a methodological point of view, this article points out the need for interdisciplinary research on kinship. History, social anthropology, and ethnology could be possible partners in such an approach.