Building walls, social groups and empires. A study of political power and compliance in the Neo-Assyrian period

Marta Lorenzon; Caroline Wallis

doi:10.36253/asiana-1545

Building walls, social groups and empires. A study of political power and compliance in the Neo-Assyrian period

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

Abstract

This contribution aims to use social history and social theory to investigate political power and compliance with authority in ancient Western Asia, through the case study of Neo-Assyrian imperial building projects. Our first aim is to discuss the realities of construction work in the Neo-Assyrian Empire, focusing on the building process both through literary sources and archaeological data. Our second goal is to understand the role played by these building sites in the strengthening of local and supra-local political orders, in the consolidation of social group boundaries, and in the construction of political subjectivities of the ancient social actors involved. Our reflection sheds light on the new interpretative possibilities – and challenges – that integrating social theories, archaeological work, and language technology may create.

Original language	English
Journal	Asia Anteriore Antica
Volume	4
Pages (from-to)	47-70
Number of pages	24
ISSN	2611-8912
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.36253/asiana-1545
Publication status	Published - 25 Jan 2023
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Fields of Science

615 History and Archaeology
Assyriology
political philosophy
Near Eastern archaeology
social history and theory
social contract

Access to Document

10.36253/asiana-1545Licence: CC BY

1545-Article Text-14265-1-10-20230125Final published version, 2.59 MBLicence: CC BY

Building sustainability: investigating earthen architecture and social practices in the Ancient Near East
Lorenzon, M., Kailamäki, U. & Cutillas Victoria, B.
01/01/2020 → 31/12/2023
Project: University of Helsinki Three-Year Research Project
Team 3: Material Culture and Community Heritage
Lahelma, A., Bonnie, R., Lorenzon, M., Holmqvist-Sipilä, E., Kouki, P., Miettunen, P. H., Kovanen, H., Thomas, S., Saari, S., Smith, S. L., Kautonen, S. K., Kailamäki, U., Holappa, M., Cutillas Victoria, B., Gheorghiade, P. & Reinikainen, S. J. J.
01/01/2018 → 31/12/2025
Project: Research project
ANEE: Centre of Excellence in Ancient Near Eastern Empires
Silverman, J. M., Svärd, S., Lahelma, A., Nikki, N., Töyräänvuori, J., Jokiranta, J., Laine, L., Kletter, R., Bonnie, R., Thomas, S., Holmqvist-Sipilä, E., Kouki, P., Wasmuth, M., Wallis, C., Lorenzon, M., Jauhiainen, H., Jauhiainen, T., Alstola, T., Bach, J., Fink, S., Konstantopoulos, G., Zaia, S., Sahala, A., Miettunen, P. H., Avneri Meir, R., Aissaoui, A. I., Arpe, O. P., Luukko, M. I., Kovanen, H., Linden, K., Bennett, E. R., Saari, S., Vanderstraeten, E., Autere, K., Debourse, C. H. I., Kailamäki, U., Kautonen, S. K., Spunaugle, A., Tambs, L., Jones, C. W., Wijnsma, U. Z., Valk, J., Gheorghiade, P., Autere, K., Uotila, R., Reinikainen, S. J. J., Cutillas Victoria, B., Holappa, M., Kletter, R., Smith, S. L. & Pfoh, E.
01/01/2018 → 31/12/2025
Project: Research project

Living under Empires
Marta Lorenzon (Member of organizing committee), Caroline Wallis (Member of organizing committee) & Sebastian Fink (Member of organizing committee)
1 Dec 2020 → 2 Dec 2020
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Organisation and participation in conferences, workshops, courses, seminars

Cite this

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title = "Building walls, social groups and empires. A study of political power and compliance in the Neo-Assyrian period",

abstract = "This contribution aims to use social history and social theory to investigate political power and compliance with authority in ancient Western Asia, through the case study of Neo-Assyrian imperial building projects. Our first aim is to discuss the realities of construction work in the Neo-Assyrian Empire, focusing on the building process both through literary sources and archaeological data. Our second goal is to understand the role played by these building sites in the strengthening of local and supra-local political orders, in the consolidation of social group boundaries, and in the construction of political subjectivities of the ancient social actors involved. Our reflection sheds light on the new interpretative possibilities – and challenges – that integrating social theories, archaeological work, and language technology may create.",

keywords = "615 History and Archaeology, Assyriology, political philosophy, Near Eastern archaeology, social history and theory, social contract",

author = "Marta Lorenzon and Caroline Wallis",

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journal = "Asia Anteriore Antica",

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AU - Wallis, Caroline

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N2 - This contribution aims to use social history and social theory to investigate political power and compliance with authority in ancient Western Asia, through the case study of Neo-Assyrian imperial building projects. Our first aim is to discuss the realities of construction work in the Neo-Assyrian Empire, focusing on the building process both through literary sources and archaeological data. Our second goal is to understand the role played by these building sites in the strengthening of local and supra-local political orders, in the consolidation of social group boundaries, and in the construction of political subjectivities of the ancient social actors involved. Our reflection sheds light on the new interpretative possibilities – and challenges – that integrating social theories, archaeological work, and language technology may create.

AB - This contribution aims to use social history and social theory to investigate political power and compliance with authority in ancient Western Asia, through the case study of Neo-Assyrian imperial building projects. Our first aim is to discuss the realities of construction work in the Neo-Assyrian Empire, focusing on the building process both through literary sources and archaeological data. Our second goal is to understand the role played by these building sites in the strengthening of local and supra-local political orders, in the consolidation of social group boundaries, and in the construction of political subjectivities of the ancient social actors involved. Our reflection sheds light on the new interpretative possibilities – and challenges – that integrating social theories, archaeological work, and language technology may create.

KW - 615 History and Archaeology

KW - Assyriology

KW - political philosophy

KW - Near Eastern archaeology

KW - social history and theory

KW - social contract

U2 - 10.36253/asiana-1545

DO - 10.36253/asiana-1545

M3 - Article

VL - 4

SP - 47

EP - 70

JO - Asia Anteriore Antica

JF - Asia Anteriore Antica

SN - 2611-8912

ER -

Building walls, social groups and empires. A study of political power and compliance in the Neo-Assyrian period

Abstract

Fields of Science

Access to Document

Projects

Building sustainability: investigating earthen architecture and social practices in the Ancient Near East

Team 3: Material Culture and Community Heritage

ANEE: Centre of Excellence in Ancient Near Eastern Empires

Activities

Living under Empires

Cite this