ABSTRACT
It should come as no surprise that archaeologists have begun incorporating the concept of ‘globalization’ into their research, with numerous case studies revealing clear evidence of local culture change associated with the existence of inter-regional interaction. However, just as social scientists interested in current or recent periods continue to debate the many ‘theories of globalization’ presently in use (see Robinson 2007), archaeologists themselves hold diverging views regarding its applicability to pre-modern periods. In his recent book Globalizations and the ancient world, Justin Jennings argues that early instances of globalization have occurred on numerous occasions. In his view,
All globalizations should (a) be triggered by a surge in long-distance connections that (b) caused the specific array of cultural changes associated with the creation of a global culture. If a period meets these two criteria, then it is a period of globalization.
