Prompt Cast
Understanding the Complexity and Transformation of Empires in the Bronze Age
TLDR The study of empires in the Bronze Age requires a dynamic and inclusive approach that considers the agency of individuals and groups, as well as the diverse perspectives and experiences of people living within the empire. The collapse of empires, such as the Hittite Empire, can be seen as a transformation rather than a loss, with deliberate rejections of imperial structures and a pursuit of different paths.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The guest, Professor Claudia Glatz, discusses her interest in the archaeology of the Bronze Age and the Hittites, which began when she was a child traveling with her father and visiting archaeological sites in Greece and Turkey.
04:25
Empires are characterized by their predatory and expansive nature, and while the term "empire" is often used as a trans-historical category, it can be challenging to define due to its varied characteristics across different political units and time periods.
08:53
The classification of empires can vary depending on different perspectives and scholarly traditions, but it can be a useful category for comparative analysis, although it may not fully capture the diversity and complexity of political entities in the past. The identification of empires in the archaeological record often relies on textual evidence and the presence of certain markers, but it can be contested and subjective.
13:39
Thinking of empires as an active process rather than a one-off creation allows for a more dynamic and inclusive understanding of these entities, taking into account the agency of various individuals and groups, as well as the different perspectives and experiences of people living within the empire.
18:08
Imperial networks are not solely shaped by human agendas, but also by non-human elements such as geography and topography, and the discontinuous nature of imperial control and the seasonality of states in ancient times is an important factor to consider when studying empires.
22:37
The Hittite empire consisted of discontinuous spaces with strong nodes of imperial power and other areas with no imperial presence, and the imperial network functioned differently in different regions, with different participants hoping to gain different things from it.
27:07
Imperial cores, including the Hittite empire, are often contested and fragile entities, with contestations of power occurring at various levels and scales, including within ruling families and among provincial governors, as well as in the daily survival strategies of peasant communities. The archaeological record can provide insights into these contestations and negotiations, such as through the analysis of agricultural practices and management strategies related to taxation.
32:04
The collapse of the Hittite Empire can be understood through the concept of imperial networks, which helps us move away from a judgmental perspective and see it as a transformation rather than a loss, with little nostalgia or interest in the Hittite imperial past in the core region, potentially due to a deliberate rejection of the empire's structures of suppression and exploitation.
36:35
The collapse of late Bronze Age states, including the Hittite Empire, was marked by a deliberate rejection of imperial structures and a choice to pursue different paths, as seen in the abandonment of palaces and the resistance to external control, particularly in mountainous regions.
41:17
The relationship between states and outsiders, particularly in mountainous regions, is a complex and less dichotomous dynamic than traditional narratives suggest, with more interaction and mundane aspects of life playing a significant role.
46:05
The study of early empires should move beyond traditional silos and include a range of voices and perspectives, as well as incorporate emerging scientific techniques to shed new light on questions of social organization and political relationships.
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History
Society & Culture
