The Social Metabolism of Past Societies: A New Approach to Environmental Changes and Societal Responses in the Territory of Sagalassos (SW Turkey)

Dries Daems, Ralf Vandam, Sam Cleymans, Nils Broothaerts, Stef Boogers

Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

This chapter advances social metabolism as a suitable framework for interdisciplinary studies of human-environment interactions in the past. We apply this framework to the comparison of two case studies of environmental changes and societal responses in the area of Sagalassos (SW Turkey): the onset of the Beyşehir Occupation phase during first millennium BCE and the Medieval Climatic Anomaly at the start of the second millennium AD. Both periods are characterised by changing environmental conditions that required societies to alter subsistence strategies, economic system and social organisation. We show how local communities responded to the challenges and opportunities offered by changing circumstances in various ways. When possible they created stable environments that served as niches of habitation and provided for all local needs in energy and resources, while also accounting for the trade-off effects between the need for increased security versus exploiting the available environmental potential.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationClimate and Society in Ancient Worlds
Subtitle of host publicationDiversity in Collapse and Resilience
EditorsPaul Erdkamp, Joseph G. Manning, Koenraad Verboven
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
Pages587-614
Number of pages28
ISBN (Electronic)9783030811037
ISBN (Print)9783030811020, 9783030811051
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Publication series

NamePalgrave Studies in Ancient Economies (PASTAE)

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