Roman amphorae from Cyprus : integrating trade and exchange in the Mediterranean
This research focuses on the study of amphorae from Cyprus in order to reconstruct aspects of trade and the Roman economy in the eastern Mediterranean region, from the 2nd c. BC to the 7th c. AD. The amphorae, as the primary containers used in commercial activities, enable an insight into trading patterns and socio-economic processes. Trade was fundamental to the Roman empire for the accomplishment of the political strategy of economic exploitation of its territories. However, it is only fairly recently that research focused on the study of amphorae for the reconstruction of trade and the examination of the economy. Still, the bias towards the western part of the empire resulted in the obscurity of the eastern exchange networks, and the lack of sufficient knowledge concerning the broader mechanisms underlying trade. Despite the growing work currently undertaken in the eastern Mediterranean, trading activities in the eastern part of the empire remain largely unknown. Thus, by analysing data from a number of sites on this strategic island and combining them with existing evidence, the aim is to provide with this thesis an original contribution to the understanding of the complex economic activities of the island
Kaldeli, Anthi
Roman amphorae from Cyprus : integrating trade and exchange in the Mediterranean. This research focuses on the study of amphorae from Cyprus in order to reconstruct aspects of trade and the Roman economy in the eastern Mediterranean region, from the 2nd c. BC to the 7th c. AD. The amphorae, as the primary containers used in commercial activities, enable an insight into trading patterns and socio-economic processes. Trade was fundamental to the Roman empire for the accomplishment of the political strategy of economic exploitation of its territories. However, it is only fairly recently that research focused on the study of amphorae for the reconstruction of trade and the examination of the economy. Still, the bias towards the western part of the empire resulted in the obscurity of the eastern exchange networks, and the lack of sufficient knowledge concerning the broader mechanisms underlying trade. Despite the growing work currently undertaken in the eastern Mediterranean, trading activities in the eastern part of the empire remain largely unknown. Thus, by analysing data from a number of sites on this strategic island and combining them with existing evidence, the aim is to provide with this thesis an original contribution to the understanding of the complex economic activities of the island
roman amphorae cyprus integrate trade_exchange mediterranean focus study amphorae cyprus order_reconstruct aspect trade roman_economy eastern_mediterranean region amphora primary container use commercial_activity enable insight trading pattern socio_economic process trade fundamental roman_empire accomplishment political strategy economic_exploitation territory however fairly recently focus study amphora reconstruction trade examination economy still bias_towards western part_empire result obscurity eastern exchange network lack_sufficient knowledge concern broad mechanism_underlie trade despite grow work currently undertaken eastern_mediterranean trading activity eastern part_empire remain_largely unknown thus analyse_data number sit strategic island combine exist evidence aim_provide original complex economic_activity island