Chapter Considering peasant agency in the Early Middle Ages. A diachronic analysis of the archaeological record in Central Portugal
This paper analyses archaeological data on early medieval rural communities through the lens of peasant agency. Over the last 15 years systematic research has been carried out in different territories of the Portuguese inland, mainly in the centre-north of the country. Here we will be focusing on th...
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| Autores principales: | , |
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| Formato: | Online |
| Lenguaje: | inglés |
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Firenze University Press
2025
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| Acceso en línea: | ONIX_20250801T173835_9791221505627_143 |
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| _version_ | 1869525244212936704 |
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| author | Tente, Catarina Prata, Sara |
| author_browse | Prata, Sara Tente, Catarina |
| author_facet | Tente, Catarina Prata, Sara |
| author_sort | Tente, Catarina |
| collection | Directory of Open Access Books |
| description | This paper analyses archaeological data on early medieval rural communities through the lens of peasant agency. Over the last 15 years systematic research has been carried out in different territories of the Portuguese inland, mainly in the centre-north of the country. Here we will be focusing on the areas for which we currently have more detailed evidence, Alto Alentejo and Beira Alta, and consider a broad chronological frame, between the 5th and the 11th centuries. However, the information available for the two territories is uneven, and it is not yet possible to offer a continuous chronological sequence in either of these areas. For this reason, we will analyse the available data collectively and from a comparative perspective. In both cases we will start by considering the new rural settlement networks that emerged from the 5th century onwards. Evidence of peasant communities in Alto Alentejo is clearer for the 6th/7th centuries, and in Beira Alta for the 10th/11th. Both are critical moments in the political sphere, coinciding with the emergence and affirmation of new administrative structures, but also necessary power vacuums where local powers emerge. By comparing the material record of peasant groups, we will reassess agricultural production, management of natural resources, artefact production, trade networks, and funerary areas, as arenas to discuss the notion of peasant agency. |
| format | Online |
| id | doab-20.500.12854ir-163387 |
| institution | Directory of Open Access Books |
| language | eng |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Firenze University Press |
| publisherStr | Firenze University Press |
| record_format | ojs |
| spelling | doab-20.500.12854ir-1633872025-08-02T05:05:42Z Chapter Considering peasant agency in the Early Middle Ages. A diachronic analysis of the archaeological record in Central Portugal Tente, Catarina Prata, Sara Early Middle Ages Peasant Agency Archaeology Alto Alentejo Beira Alta Social conflict rural communities This paper analyses archaeological data on early medieval rural communities through the lens of peasant agency. Over the last 15 years systematic research has been carried out in different territories of the Portuguese inland, mainly in the centre-north of the country. Here we will be focusing on the areas for which we currently have more detailed evidence, Alto Alentejo and Beira Alta, and consider a broad chronological frame, between the 5th and the 11th centuries. However, the information available for the two territories is uneven, and it is not yet possible to offer a continuous chronological sequence in either of these areas. For this reason, we will analyse the available data collectively and from a comparative perspective. In both cases we will start by considering the new rural settlement networks that emerged from the 5th century onwards. Evidence of peasant communities in Alto Alentejo is clearer for the 6th/7th centuries, and in Beira Alta for the 10th/11th. Both are critical moments in the political sphere, coinciding with the emergence and affirmation of new administrative structures, but also necessary power vacuums where local powers emerge. By comparing the material record of peasant groups, we will reassess agricultural production, management of natural resources, artefact production, trade networks, and funerary areas, as arenas to discuss the notion of peasant agency. 2025-08-02T05:05:41Z 2025-08-02T05:05:41Z 2025-08-01T15:49:15Z 2024 chapter ONIX_20250801T173835_9791221505627_143 2704-6079 https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/104693 9791221505627 https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/163387 eng Reti Medievali E-Book open access image/jpeg Attribution 4.0 International https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/104693/1/43431.pdf Firenze University Press 10.36253/979-12-215-0562-7.05 10.36253/979-12-215-0562-7.05 2ec4474d-93b1-4cfa-b313-9c6019b51b1a 9791221505627 21 Florence open access |
| spellingShingle | Early Middle Ages Peasant Agency Archaeology Alto Alentejo Beira Alta Social conflict rural communities Tente, Catarina Prata, Sara Chapter Considering peasant agency in the Early Middle Ages. A diachronic analysis of the archaeological record in Central Portugal |
| title | Chapter Considering peasant agency in the Early Middle Ages. A diachronic analysis of the archaeological record in Central Portugal |
| title_full | Chapter Considering peasant agency in the Early Middle Ages. A diachronic analysis of the archaeological record in Central Portugal |
| title_fullStr | Chapter Considering peasant agency in the Early Middle Ages. A diachronic analysis of the archaeological record in Central Portugal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chapter Considering peasant agency in the Early Middle Ages. A diachronic analysis of the archaeological record in Central Portugal |
| title_short | Chapter Considering peasant agency in the Early Middle Ages. A diachronic analysis of the archaeological record in Central Portugal |
| title_sort | chapter considering peasant agency in the early middle ages a diachronic analysis of the archaeological record in central portugal |
| topic | Early Middle Ages Peasant Agency Archaeology Alto Alentejo Beira Alta Social conflict rural communities |
| topic_facet | Early Middle Ages Peasant Agency Archaeology Alto Alentejo Beira Alta Social conflict rural communities |
| url | ONIX_20250801T173835_9791221505627_143 |
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