Theme:
6. The Mediterranean from Within
Session format:
Regular session
Title:
Adriatic Bridge - Unravelling political, social, and cultural transformations in the Adriatic?Ionian, and Balkan region in the last millenium BC
Content:
Over the last millennia BCE, the Adriatic – Ionian region experienced a series of profound transformations. This transitional period witnessed the evolution of local communities along the eastern and western coasts to the emergence of integrated societies characterized by the coexistence of Greeks, indigenous communities, and newly arrived Romans. Amidst these changes, the region exhibited expanding economic complexities, the development of distinct local identities through enhanced mobility and network connectivity, and a flourishing trade and exchange network. These developments played a key role in unifying diverse social organizations and material culture, ultimately resulting in a unified culture at the end of the last millennium BC. However, scholarly discussions often fall short of examining the Adriatic region, leading to fragmented representations of the area and its historical significance within the broader context of ancient Mediterranean connectivity and communities.
This session aims to address several pertinent questions concerning the historical trajectories of Adriatic communities:
• How did Adriatic communities develop from the Late Bronze Age, and what influence did the collapse of the Bronze Age in the Mediterranean have on this region?
• Can we trace the catalysts behind Adriatic - Ionian trade and their impact on local communities?
• What were the consequences of the arrival of external actors, the Greeks and Romans, on the transformation of the Adriatic region?
The primary objective of this session is to offer valuable insights into these inquiries, stimulate meaningful discussions among scholars, and potentially provoke the exploration of new research avenues within the study of the Adriatic - Ionian region during this transformative period. By delving into these questions, we anticipate a more nuanced comprehension of the connections that linked Adriatic communities and a clearer understanding of the related social and cultural developments that shaped the region during this pivotal era.
Keywords:
Adriatic Bronze Age, Iron Age, Classical/Hellenistic period, communities, connectivity, material culture
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
no
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:
Main organiser:
Domagoj Perkic (Croatia) 1
Co-organisers:
Maja Miše (United Kingdom) 2
Hrvoje Potrebica (Croatia) 3
Sarah James (United States) 4
Francesco Meo (Italy) 5
Affiliations:
1. Dubrovnik Museums, Archaeological Museum
2. UCL Institute of Archaeology
3. University of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
4. Department of Classics, University of Colorado Boulder
5. University of Salento, Department of Cultural Heritage
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