THE SOUTHERN AEGEAN SYSTEM

Ina Berg

doi:10.5195/jwsr.1999.123

Abstract

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).

Highlights

World-system.., theory wa..,originally formulated with our modern economic system in mind (Wallerstein 1974), it wa..,not long before archaeologists began to apply it to ancient societies
Our investigation into the South Aegean network shows that there was a core scmipcriphcry relation ship in the Middle Bronze Age but that it never developed into a hierarchical relationship
This kind of interaction has been called core-periphery differentiation and denotes interaction betwe en societies which is not governed by exploitation but is th e result of different levels of social complexity (Chase Dunn & Hall 1997: 36)

Summary

Introduction

World-system.., theory wa..,originally formulated with our modern economic system in mind (Wallerstein 1974), it wa..,not long before archaeologists began to apply it to ancient societies. Gain some idea about boundaric s by analysing the network outlin es we get from all available classes of evidence This procedure docs not allow us to determine what the boundaries arc of bulk-goods exchange or military interact ion, etc., we can use the evidence to give us a general picture of interaction in the Southern Aegean. During the Middle Bronze Age Crete ha

Discussion

Summary