Empire as network: spheres of material interaction in Late Bronze Age Anatolia

Glatz, C. (2009) Empire as network: spheres of material interaction in Late Bronze Age Anatolia. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, 28(2), pp. 127-141. (doi: 10.1016/j.jaa.2008.10.003)

Abstract

Hegemonic dominance relationships and the limited intentional material expressions of imperial power they usually encompass pose an interesting and well-known problem for the archaeology of early empires. One way of approaching domination in the archaeological record is through the synthetic analysis of different modes of imperial-local interaction at overlapping socio-political levels and spheres of culture. In this paper, four material culture categories are considered with the aim of characterizing Hittite imperial relationships in Late Bronze Age Anatolia and northern Syria. They include pottery traditions and their degree of susceptibility for central influence, diachronic settlement developments, the distribution of imperial administrative technology, and an ideological discourse carried out through landscape monuments. From the spatial and chronological signatures of these overlapping networks of interaction, a more nuanced understanding of the process of empire is beginning to emerge.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Empire, power, inter-regional interaction, Hittite, Anatolia, Late Bronze Age, pottery, settlement patterns, administrative technology, landscape monuments
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Glatz, Professor Claudia
• Authors: Glatz, C.
• Subjects: C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CC Archaeology; D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D051 Ancient History; G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Archaeology
• Journal Name: Journal of Anthropological Archaeology
• Journal Abbr.: JAA
• ISSN: 0278-4165