The sources of royal power : a study on the migration of power structures from the kingdom of Argead Makedonia to early Ptolemaic Egypt
This thesis discusses the sources of royal power in the kingdoms of Argead Makedonia and early Ptolemaic Egypt. The overarching aim is to assess the degree of change and continuity between the structures and networks that framed Argead and Ptolemaic royal power. Viewing power not as an abstraction but as the outcome of the real and observable interrelations between individuals and groups, this thesis builds upon the historical sociology of Michael Mann in order to identify four main sources of royal power: dynastic, courtly, military and economic. In their capacity to enhance or limit royal power, the social networks that are formed between the king and representatives of these groups in each context, as well as the structures that produce and reproduce their behaviour, form the focal points of this research. As such, this thesis distances itself from that segment of socio-historical tradition, which grants ultimate primacy to human agency. The Introduction presents the main scholarly debates surrounding the nature of Ptolemaic and Argead kingship and highlights the fact that although both have received considerable attention separately, they have not yet been the focus of a systematic, comparative analysis.
Lianou, Margarita
DF233.2L5 ; Monarchy--Macedonia--History ; Monarchy--Egypt--History ; Macedonia--King and rulers ; Egypt--Kings and rulers ; Macedonia--Politics and government--To 168 B.C. ; Egypt--Politics and government--332-30 B.C.
The sources of royal power : a study on the migration of power structures from the kingdom of Argead Makedonia to early Ptolemaic Egypt. This thesis discusses the sources of royal power in the kingdoms of Argead Makedonia and early Ptolemaic Egypt. The overarching aim is to assess the degree of change and continuity between the structures and networks that framed Argead and Ptolemaic royal power. Viewing power not as an abstraction but as the outcome of the real and observable interrelations between individuals and groups, this thesis builds upon the historical sociology of Michael Mann in order to identify four main sources of royal power: dynastic, courtly, military and economic. In their capacity to enhance or limit royal power, the social networks that are formed between the king and representatives of these groups in each context, as well as the structures that produce and reproduce their behaviour, form the focal points of this research. As such, this thesis distances itself from that segment of socio-historical tradition, which grants ultimate primacy to human agency. The Introduction presents the main scholarly debates surrounding the nature of Ptolemaic and Argead kingship and highlights the fact that although both have received considerable attention separately, they have not yet been the focus of a systematic, comparative analysis.
source royal_power study migration power structure kingdom early ptolemaic egypt discus source royal_power kingdom early ptolemaic egypt overarch_aim assess degree change_continuity structure network frame ptolemaic royal_power viewing power abstraction outcome real observable interrelation individual_group build_upon historical sociology order_identify four_main source royal_power dynastic courtly military_economic capacity enhance limit royal_power social_network form king representative group context well structure produce reproduce behaviour form focal_point research distance segment socio_historical tradition grant ultimate primacy human_agency introduction present main scholarly_debate surround nature ptolemaic kingship highlight fact although receive_considerable_attention separately yet focus systematic comparative_analysis