Economic landscapes and their natural and social interdependence in precapitalist societies

The term economic landscape helps to define the complex relationship between the economic activities of human society and their natural environment. Natural resources, environmental conditions and the trans/supra-regional geographical setting provide the basis for the economic development of a region. Furthermore, social settings of economic actions and interactions are taken into consideration.

Beyond resources and infrastructure, production and distribution sites are fundamental to understand economic landscapes. Since economic phenomena are not restricted to the landscape in which they are evolving, we are aiming to widen the theoretical framework towards the term Regional economic analysis. Inter-regional exchange patterns created by a certain demand and political interest have to be addressed while dealing with ancient economies.

Regarding questions of organization, political power, which is gained and maintained by control over crucial resources, is a central aspect. Therefore, a focus on aspects of political economy is necessary. Political economy is based upon a particular – either traditional or dynamic – ideology. The latter is important in terms of understanding processes of innovation, which transform economic space and its perception in a fundamental way.

The Autumn School will focus on the following aspects:

• The access to and use of natural resources and the effects of environmental conditions
• Structuring economic space (production sites, distribution sites, networks)
• Transformation of mindscapes (ideology, power, innovations) and their spatial framing

The program of the Autumn School consists of several lectures providing an introduction to each of these three aspects, followed by a visit to the German Archaeological Institute and its laboratories in Berlin, as well as a practical approach to GIS based network analyses. Furthermore, an excursion to the Archäologisches Landesmuseum Brandenburg (Brandenburg a. d. Havel) is planned.

Ph.D. students of archaeology, geography and related disciplines are encouraged to submit their poster contributions.

Costs and accommodation

Participation is free of charge.

Travel allowance up to 200 € per person is available for non-local participants. All participants will be expected to organize their own travel and accommodation in Berlin for the duration of the Autumn School. Advice on accommodation options will be provided.

Contact

economic_landscapes@outlook.de

Conception and organization

Judith Fütterer, Elke Kaiser, Jan Krause, Robert Martin

Participating institutions

Berliner Antike-Kolleg (BAK), Berlin Graduate School of Ancient Studies (BerGSAS), Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology and Institute of Geographical Sciences (Freie Universität Berlin), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin German, Archaeological Institute (DAI)

Program