Trade before Civilization: Long Distance Exchange and the Rise of Social Complexity

Trade before Civilization explores the role of long-distance exchange in the establishment and maintenance of social complexity and the transformation of societies from egalitarian to non-egalitarian. It offers new insights and enhances our understanding of socio-political evolution, appealing to archaeologists, cultural anthropologists, conflict theorists, and ethnohistorians.

Format: Hardback
Length: 446 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Trade before Civilization delves into the profound impact of long-distance exchange on the development and/or sustenance of social complexity, as well as its pivotal role in the transition of societies from egalitarian to non-egalitarian paradigms. Through the collaborative efforts of an international and methodologically diverse team of scholars, this comprehensive volume conducts an in-depth analysis of the intricate relationship between long-distance trade and the emergence of inequality. The book showcases how elites strategically employed exotic prestige goods to reinforce and preserve their elevated social positions within society. With a global reach, it presents case studies of early societies and sites across Europe, Asia, Oceania, North America, and Mesoamerica, employing a diverse range of inter-disciplinary and cutting-edge theoretical approaches from a cross-cultural framework. By offering fresh insights and expanding our understanding of socio-political evolution, this volume appeals to archaeologists, cultural anthropologists, conflict theorists, ethnohistorians, and economists alike, who are interested in exploring the intricate connections between imported luxury items and cultural transformation.

Weight: 1056g
Dimension: 262 x 184 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781316514689