The evolution of two archaic Sicilian poleis : Megara Hyblaia and Selinous
This study attempts to revive T.J. Dunbabin's multi-dimensional approach to the history of Early Iron Age Sicily in The Western Greeks (Oxford 1948). Dunbabin recognised that archaic Sicily had no real history, and that any historical account involved combining the very scant documentary record with the fuller and ever-growing body of archaeological evidence to produce a framework for writing social and economic history. These innovative methods ended with Dunbabin, however: today the field is dominated by scholars impeded artificially by disciplinary boundaries, which discourage the productive combination of historical and archaeological sources, leaving a number of important questions in a sort of academic no man's land. In the introduction an overview of the study of Sicily since Dunbabin is given, and Dunbabin's own weaknesses are explored: Dunbabin modelled Greek colonisation in Sicily on modern British colonisation; such a decision strait-jacketed his image of the past, causing him to draw conclusions unacceptable today. The increase in the quantity of archaeological evidence since Dunbabin means that it is no longer possible to make an in-depth study of the whole of Sicily in a single volume. Consequently,
De Angelis, Franco
Colonies ; History ; Greece ; Sicily (Italy) ; To 800
The evolution of two archaic Sicilian poleis : Megara Hyblaia and Selinous. This study attempts to revive T.J. Dunbabin's multi-dimensional approach to the history of Early Iron Age Sicily in The Western Greeks (Oxford 1948). Dunbabin recognised that archaic Sicily had no real history, and that any historical account involved combining the very scant documentary record with the fuller and ever-growing body of archaeological evidence to produce a framework for writing social and economic history. These innovative methods ended with Dunbabin, however: today the field is dominated by scholars impeded artificially by disciplinary boundaries, which discourage the productive combination of historical and archaeological sources, leaving a number of important questions in a sort of academic no man's land. In the introduction an overview of the study of Sicily since Dunbabin is given, and Dunbabin's own weaknesses are explored: Dunbabin modelled Greek colonisation in Sicily on modern British colonisation; such a decision strait-jacketed his image of the past, causing him to draw conclusions unacceptable today. The increase in the quantity of archaeological evidence since Dunbabin means that it is no longer possible to make an in-depth study of the whole of Sicily in a single volume. Consequently,
archaic sicilian poleis study_attempt revive multi_dimensional history early iron age sicily western greeks oxford recognise archaic sicily real history historical_account involve combine scant documentary record fuller ever growing body archaeological_evidence produce framework write social_economic history innovative method end however today field dominate scholar impede artificially disciplinary boundary discourage productive combination historical_archaeological source leave number_important question sort academic man land introduction overview study sicily since give weaknesses explore model greek_colonisation sicily modern british colonisation decision image past cause draw_conclusion unacceptable today increase quantity archaeological_evidence since mean longer possible make depth_study whole sicily single volume consequently