Power negotiations and distributions of knowledge : glyptic iconographies and visual media strategies in late fourth millennium BC Greater Mesopotamia
In Greater Mesopotamia during the fourth millennium BC, several technological developments, as well as entirely new inventions, occurred concomitantly with wide-ranging social changes. Hence, already in the last few centuries of the millennium, several societies were radically different from those preceding them. Of particular importance are aspects such as networks of exchange, urbanisation, organisation and objectification of the labour force, and the interrelated complex administrative practises; particularly writing and glyptic technologies. Beyond writing, none of these aspects were entirely new inventions of this period; however, it is argued in this thesis that the scale and complexity were unprecedented. At the core of these radical changes, were the administrative technologiesâ increasing ability to transfer complex information across both geographical distances, as well as time. Most of the relevant literature explores how this made possible increasingly complex administrative practises, and how large institutions actively utilised these administrative practises to negotiate their position within society. The glyptic iconography that is part of these technologies is most commonly approached as
Helgestad, B. E.
Power negotiations and distributions of knowledge : glyptic iconographies and visual media strategies in late fourth millennium BC Greater Mesopotamia. In Greater Mesopotamia during the fourth millennium BC, several technological developments, as well as entirely new inventions, occurred concomitantly with wide-ranging social changes. Hence, already in the last few centuries of the millennium, several societies were radically different from those preceding them. Of particular importance are aspects such as networks of exchange, urbanisation, organisation and objectification of the labour force, and the interrelated complex administrative practises; particularly writing and glyptic technologies. Beyond writing, none of these aspects were entirely new inventions of this period; however, it is argued in this thesis that the scale and complexity were unprecedented. At the core of these radical changes, were the administrative technologiesâ increasing ability to transfer complex information across both geographical distances, as well as time. Most of the relevant literature explores how this made possible increasingly complex administrative practises, and how large institutions actively utilised these administrative practises to negotiate their position within society. The glyptic iconography that is part of these technologies is most commonly approached as
power negotiation distribution knowledge glyptic iconography visual_medium strategy greater mesopotamia greater mesopotamia several technological_development well entirely_new invention occur wide_ranging social_change hence already millennium several society radically_different precede them particular_importance aspect networks exchange urbanisation organisation objectification labour_force interrelate complex administrative practises particularly write glyptic technology beyond writing none aspect entirely_new invention period however_argue scale complexity unprecedented core radical_change administrative technology increase ability transfer complex information across geographical distance well time relevant_literature explores make_possible increasingly_complex administrative practises large institution actively utilised administrative practises negotiate position_within society glyptic iconography part technology commonly approach