ABSTRACT
This book explores how globalization and transculturality are useful theoretical tools for studying pre-modern societies and their long-distance connections. Among the themes explored are how these concepts can enhance our understanding of trade networks, the spread of religions, the diffusion of global fashions, the migration of technologies, public and private initiatives, and wider cultural changes.
In this book, archaeologists and ancient historians demonstrate how in diverse contexts – from the Bronze Age to colonial times – humanity displayed an urge and an incredible capacity to connect with distant lands and people. Adopting and modifying approaches originally developed for the study of contemporary societies, it is possible to enhance our understanding of the human past, not only in economic terms, but also the cultural significance of such interconnections.
This book provides both the wider public and the specialist reader with a fresh point of view on global issues relating to the past; in turn, allowing us to look anew at developments in the contemporary world. Its large chronological and geographical scope should prove appealing to those who want more than mere Eurocentric history. Teachers and students of world history and archaeology will find this book a useful resource.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
chapter |15 pages
Introduction
part Section I|37 pages
Theory and methodology
part Section II|65 pages
Bronze age globalization
chapter 4|22 pages
Agencement, matter flows and itinerary of object in the Bronze Age East Mediterranean
chapter 5|17 pages
Dragon divers and clamorous fishermen
part Section III|84 pages
Globalization in the early historic Indian Ocean
chapter 6|21 pages
Archaeology of globalization
chapter 8|18 pages
Mediterranean goods in an Indian context
part Section IV|63 pages
Global studies in complex historical contexts