Greek and Roman Networks in the Mediterranean

How useful is the concept of "network" for historical studies and the ancient world in particular? Using theoretical models of social network analysis, this book illuminates aspects of the economic, social, religious, and political history of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds. The book moves beyond political institutions, ethnic, and geographical boundaries in order to observe the ancient Mediterranean through a perspective of network interaction. It employs a wide range of approaches, and to examine relationships and interactions among various social entities in the Mediterranean. Chronologically, the book extends from the early Iron Age to the late Antique world, covering the Mediterranean between Antioch in the east to Massalia (Marseilles) in the west. This volume brings together some of the most active and prominent researchers in ancient history.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction Irad Malkin, Christy Constantokopoulou and Katerina Panagopoulou 2. Beyond and below the polis: Networks, associations and the writing of Greek history Kostas Vlassopoulos 3. Network theory and Theoric Networks Ian Rutherford 4. Did the Delphic Amphiktiony play a political role in the classical period? Simon Hornblower 5. Pythios and Pythion: The spread of a cult title J.K. Davies 6. Cults of Demeter Eleusinia and the transmission of religious ideas Hugh Bowden 7. What travelled with Greek pottery? Robin Osborne 8. Networks of commerce and knowledge in the Iron Age: The case of the Phoenicians Michael Sommer 9. Networks of Rhodians in Karia Riet van Bremen 10. Libanius' social networks: understanding the social structure of the later Roman empire Isabella Sandwell 11. Network theory and religious innovation Anna Collar 12. Commercial networks in the Mediterranean and the diffusion of early Attic red-figure pottery Dimitris Paleothodoros 13. Brotherhoods of faith and providence: The non-public associations of the Greek world Vincent Gabrielsen 14. Thessalians abroad: The case of Pharsalos Maria Stamatopoulou 15. Profitable Networks: Coinages, Panegyreis, and the Dionysiac Artists Selene Psoma 16. On the road to India with Apollonios of Tyana and Thomas the Apostle Gary Reger 17. Via Egnatia after Egnatius: Imperial policy ander inter-regional contacts Yannis Lolos 18. Hadrian's Panhellenion: A network of cities? Panagiotis N. Doukellis 19. Merchant networks in the Greek world: The impact of Rome Dominic Rathbone

About the Author :
Tel Aviv University, Israel Birbeck College, London, UK University of Crete, Greece

Review :
Overall the book succeeds in its stated aim of exploring the potential applications of addressing historical questions by thinking about networks and connectivity in different contexts and with different types of evidence. In this way, the flexibility and adaptability of the methodology has been successfully demonstrated, and readers interested in new approaches may find many of the papers of use. - Marlena Whiting