Ancient Civilization and Trade

Book excerpt: The contributors to this volume explore trade's dynamic role in the growth of early civilizations from the vantage points of archaeology, economics, social anthropology, and cultural geography. They examine such topics as central-place theory, information flow, early state modules, long-distance trade, classes of trade, and modes of exchange. Discussion of the development of early civilizations, the change from chiefdom to state, and the formation of trading networks all combine to provide a useful view of the different archaeological approaches to the study of trade and its role in the growth of civilization.