From House Societies to States: Early Political Organisation, From Antiquity to the Middle Ages

The organisation and characteristics of early and ancient states have become the focus of renewed interest from archaeologists, ancient historians, and anthropologists. Recent research stresses the existence of other forms of socio-political organisation, less vertically integrated and more heterarchical, that were highly successful and resilient in the long term. Nomadic, maritime, and mountain populations provide fascinating examples of societies that experienced alternative forms of political organisation. This book explores such small-scale socio-political organisations, their potential, and the historical trajectories they stimulated. It highlights the importance of comparative research and long-term historical perspectives to avoid simplistic interpretations and to understand the limits of effective state power.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2022
Publisher: Oxbow Books

Archaeologists, ancient historians, and anthropologists have recently revived their interest in the organization and characteristics of early and ancient states. On the one hand, neo-evolutionary schemas of political transformation struggle to define fundamental concepts like 'chiefdom,' 'complex chiefdom,' and 'state,' as well as the transition between them. On the other hand, teleological interpretations based on linear dynamics, progressing from less to increasingly complex political structures in successive steps, impose biased and rigid views on the available evidence. Recent research highlights the existence of alternative socio-political organization forms, less vertically integrated and more heterarchical, that have proven highly successful and resilient in the long term in binding social groups together. Moreover, these forms often served as the building blocks of states and survived their collapse. Furthermore, nomadic, maritime, and mountain populations offer fascinating examples of societies that experienced alternative forms of political organization, sometimes on a seasonal basis. In other cases, their consideration as 'marginal populations that cultivated specialized skills ensured them a certain degree of autonomy when living within or at the borders of states.

This book delves into these small-scale socio-political organizations, their potential, and the historical trajectories they stimulated. A selection of historical case studies from various regions of the world aims to rethink current concepts and views about the emergence and organization of political complexity and the mechanisms that prevented, occasionally, the emergence of solid polities. It may also shed light on the diverse ways in which societies have organized themselves and interacted with each other throughout history.

Dimension: 240 x 170 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789258622