Change in the Iron Age (625-50/1BC) of the lower RhĂŽne : Mediterranean cosmopolitanism or colonization?
This thesis focuses on the complex phenomenon of cultural change in the lower Rhone during the Iron Age. More cosmopolitan tastes in monumental architecture, food, drink and ritual practices all developed in this period and in this work I attempt to explain why these broader Mediterranean practices were adopted by lower Rhone societies. I begin by building up a picture of lower Rhone society through a review of settlement patterns and communications in the region. I also consider the sorts of identities that were being expressed through the adoption of different practices. My investigations lead me to conclude that good communications with the wider Mediterranean meant that lower Rhone societies were open to new traditions. I propose that cultural change was stimulated by a combination of communications with the wider Mediterranean and internal politics. I suggest that the willingness of lower Rhone societies to adopt new practices was owing to political instability and the needs of emergent elite to distinguish themselves from earlier groups through the adoption of novel practices and the development of new identities. My approach to cultural change in the lower Rhone thus differs from earlier studies, which
Jefferson, Victoria
Change in the Iron Age (625-50/1BC) of the lower RhĂŽne : Mediterranean cosmopolitanism or colonization?. This thesis focuses on the complex phenomenon of cultural change in the lower Rhone during the Iron Age. More cosmopolitan tastes in monumental architecture, food, drink and ritual practices all developed in this period and in this work I attempt to explain why these broader Mediterranean practices were adopted by lower Rhone societies. I begin by building up a picture of lower Rhone society through a review of settlement patterns and communications in the region. I also consider the sorts of identities that were being expressed through the adoption of different practices. My investigations lead me to conclude that good communications with the wider Mediterranean meant that lower Rhone societies were open to new traditions. I propose that cultural change was stimulated by a combination of communications with the wider Mediterranean and internal politics. I suggest that the willingness of lower Rhone societies to adopt new practices was owing to political instability and the needs of emergent elite to distinguish themselves from earlier groups through the adoption of novel practices and the development of new identities. My approach to cultural change in the lower Rhone thus differs from earlier studies, which
change iron_age low mediterranean cosmopolitanism colonization focus complex_phenomenon cultural_change lower iron_age cosmopolitan taste monumental_architecture food drink ritual_practice develop period work attempt_explain broad mediterranean practice adopt low society begin build_picture lower society review settlement pattern communication region also_consider sort identity_express adoption different practice investigation lead conclude good communication wider_mediterranean mean low society open_new tradition propose cultural_change stimulate combination communication wider_mediterranean internal politics suggest willingness low society adopt new practice owe political_instability need emergent elite distinguish earlier group adoption novel practice development new identity cultural_change lower thus differs earlier study