The Back Sea and the Mediterranean. - AKAV00047
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Schedule Noticeboard
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Last update: Mgr. Petra Tušlová, Ph.D. (15.10.2018)
- teacher: Diana Dobreva (University of Verona, Italy) This course will address a wide range of issues concerning the economic exchanges that took place within the <br> Black Sea region, and between the Black Sea, the Lower Danube territory and the Mediterranean areas from about <br> Late Hellenistic to Late Roman times. For thus will be considered old and new evidence in order to shed light on <br> central aspects of the economic relationship that existed between these eminently important regions in Antiquity. It <br> will be offered novel approaches and propound a number of fresh interpretations to key questions concerning the <br> relationship between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. The overarching question is whether the Black Sea <br> and the Mediterranean were organically linked and thus complemented each other in economic terms. Special <br> attention will be paid on pottery containers, amphorae, as these are our most important source for the transport of <br> commodities by ship in the ancient world. The Black Sea region forms an ideal background for a study of a central <br> aspect of the ancient economy: the relation between regional and interregional trade and exchange. The course <br> will analyse, through using amphorae as key-evidences, the phenomena that controlled trading networks, and <br> long-distance maritime routes in particular, since these would have been conditioned by political and economic <br> evolutions. Evidence from various sources will be used to map what we know about the distribution of wine, oil and <br> fish sauces, in particular in two specific regions: the western coast of the Black Sea and the Lower Danube territory. <br> After analysing some regional contexts, wider view in distribution patterns will be considered. The students will be <br> asked to reflect on a number of issues, which include: Different types of sources and methodological approaches; <br> What are the goods and/or services that are being exchanged with nearby or distant commercial partners? Can <br> these exchanges be expressed quantitatively (i.e. volume and value of imports and exports)? How did the wealth <br> generated thereby affect the public and private sectors? Is it possible to detect improvements in transport <br> technology and in trade infrastructure? Is it possible to map out relatively stable or shifting partnerships? What <br> might be the factors conditioning these partnerships in the short and long run? To what degree do politics and <br> imperial structures affect economic processes? <br> Topics covered include: the geography, climate and vocation of the territory; the economic impact of technological <br> progress; agricultural specialisation and investment: especially the local wine, oil and fish sauce industry; the use <br> of ceramic data to illuminate trading patterns; the interpretation of shipwreck evidence; the effect of ancient <br> transport technologies on the distribution of goods; urban crafts and the involvement of elites in trading activities.<br> The course has different schedule - it will be taught in two blocks, one in December, another one in January, always on Tuesdays and Fridays from 14:10 to 17:30 in Celetna 20, First meeting is in front of the Room 343C (3rd floor, Institute for Classical Archaeology) The days of classes are: December 4th December 7th December 11th December 14th January 4th January 8th January 11th |