Marginalised Populations in the Ancient Greek World: The Bioarchaeology of the Other

Ancient Greek studies have traditionally focused on elite males, leaving the voices of foreigners, the physically impaired, the impoverished, and the disenfranchised silent. This book uses literary, artistic, material, and biological evidence to reconstruct societal attitudes toward disenfranchised peoples, arguing that intersectionality was the driving factor behind social marginalization in the Late Archaic and Classical Greek world.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 14 February 2024
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Studies of the ancient Greek world have traditionally focused on the lives of elite males, as they have made the most significant impact on ancient Greek literature, art, and material culture. However, this focus has resulted in the silence of foreigners, the physically impaired, the impoverished, and the generally disenfranchised, making it challenging to create a comprehensive historical narrative of these marginalized groups. To address this gap, previous research has relied on limited evidence found in literature and material culture to reconstruct societal attitudes toward disenfranchised peoples.

This book takes a different approach by primarily examining the skeletal remains and burial contexts of the individuals themselves. By drawing upon a wide range of literary, artistic, material, and biological evidence, it sheds new light on groups of individuals who were often relegated to the periphery of Greek society during the Late Archaic and Classical periods. Offering the first comprehensive treatment of the biological evidence for marginality in the ancient Greek world, this book argues that intersectionality was the driving force behind social marginalization in this period.

The book begins by exploring the social and political context of the Late Archaic and Classical Greek world, which was characterized by the rise of city-states and the decline of the Greek polis. It examines the ways in which these changes impacted the lives of ordinary individuals, particularly those who were marginalized by society. The book then turns to the evidence of skeletal remains and burial contexts, which provide insight into the health, diet, and social status of individuals.

Through analysis of these data, the book demonstrates that intersectionality was a key factor in social marginalization in the Late Archaic and Classical Greek world. It shows that individuals who were marginalized by multiple factors, such as gender, race, class, and disability, were at a greater risk of being excluded from society and experiencing social exclusion. The book also explores the ways in which individuals who were marginalized by these factors responded to their circumstances, including resistance, accommodation, and assimilation.

In conclusion, this book offers a new perspective on the history of social marginalization in the ancient Greek world. By examining the skeletal remains and burial contexts of individuals, it sheds new light on the experiences of marginalized groups and demonstrates that intersectionality was the driving factor behind social exclusion in this period. The book provides valuable insights into the lives of ordinary individuals who were often overlooked by traditional historical narratives and highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing the voices of those who have been silenced by history.

Weight: 498g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399529846