Prompt Cast
The Importance of Studying Forgotten Societies in the Ancient Mediterranean
TLDR Professor Peter van Dommelen emphasizes the significance of studying forgotten societies in the ancient Mediterranean, such as those in Sardinia, for a better understanding of the ancient world. He discusses the politicization of archaeology in Sardinia, the connections between Sardinia and the West Mediterranean, the complexities of trade and mobility in the ancient Mediterranean, and the importance of studying rural contexts.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Professor Peter van Dommelen is an expert on the forgotten societies of the ancient Mediterranean, particularly on the island of Sardinia, and discusses the importance of studying these societies for a better understanding of the ancient world.
04:50
Archaeology is a common profession in Sardinia due to the prevalence of archaeological sites, and the field has become politicized and integrated into the contemporary culture of the island.
09:12
Sardinia shares more in common with the West Mediterranean in the early Iron Age than it does with Italy, particularly through Iron Age connections and the presence of Sardinian material in North Africa and Andalusia.
14:14
The assumption that Greek material found in different places was brought there by Greeks themselves is oversimplified, and there is a tendency to leave out other peoples from history; instead, there were many societies and communities that were traveling and sailing themselves, with local knowledge of safe routes and navigation.
18:51
There were multiple ways in which goods and people were distributed and connected in the ancient Mediterranean, including the movement of cargoes, the use of different crews or pilots, and the existence of Emporia, or connecting places; while long-distance voyages did occur, there was also a significant amount of shorter-distance mobility and trade.
23:50
The Noragae, which are ancient stone structures in Sardinia, served as both defensive and symbolic elements of power, with smaller ones potentially being used for extended family or kinship groups, and larger ones representing elite elements; Sardinia's rich copper resources also played a role in its connections with other regions, particularly Cyprus, throughout the Bronze Age and later.
29:07
The research project focuses on the Nuraga in the first millennium, which were seen as prehistoric monuments but are now being excavated to understand cultural change and connectivity in the Mediterranean.
33:47
The changes in Sardinian society were not solely driven by contact with foreigners, but also by internal developments and the local population's interest in new things, such as round bread ovens.
38:28
Rural archaeology focuses on understanding the economic activities and lifestyles of rural areas, which can be just as sophisticated as urban areas, and studying ancient rural economies is crucial for understanding colonialism and pre-capitalist societies.
43:27
The speaker emphasizes the importance of studying local societies and the interface between the local and the larger context in understanding the ancient Mediterranean, and discusses the complexities of local identity and indigeneity in different historical periods.
47:58
The speaker discusses the importance of studying rural contexts and the alternative networks that existed between rural areas in the ancient Mediterranean, highlighting the significance of mobility and contact in shaping local and regional worlds.
Categories:
History
Society & Culture
