LITERACY AND STATE
DEVELOPMENT: COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVES
Room 612, Institute of Archaeology
University College London
10th November 2004
Abstract
The
development of writing systems and modes of literacy have frequently
been identified as having important roles in the development of states
and complex societies. However, this is still not fully understood and
many aspects of this theme in the development of ancient societies
remains to be clarified. It is a theme which has relevance to many
different ancient societies and forms of writing, ranging from ancient
Egypt and the Near East to the prehistoric and classical Mediterranean,
and from early American cultures to the Roman empire and beyond.
However, these regions are all too often studied in isolation.
The
Social and Cultural Dynamics Research Group and the Complex and Literate
Societies Research Group at the Institute of Archaeology are organising
this one-day seminar on this theme, taking place on 10th November 2004.
The purpose of this seminar is to bring together speakers working on aspects
of the development of writing and literacy in any ancient society, and
it seeks particularly to explore the linkage (if any) between the
development of writing systems and literacy and evolution of complex
state societies.
Programme
11.00-11.30 coffee
11.30-1.00 Egyptian and Near Eastern Literacy
11.30-12.00 John Tait ‘Writing in Egypt’
12.00-12.30 José-R. Pérez-Accino ‘The political concept of Egypt and the
invention of writing as reflected in the Shabaka stone’
12.30-1.00 Yvette Balbaligo ‘Egyptology beyond philology’
1.00-2.30 Lunch
2.30-3.30 Egyptian and Near Eastern Literacy (continued)
2.30-3.00 Kathryn Piquette ‘ Inscribed objects of the Late
Predynastic and 1st Dynasty of Egypt’
3.00-3.30 Robert Hoyland ‘Writing among the pre-Islamic Arabs’
3.30-4.00 Literacy in Central and southern America
3.30-4.00 Bill Sillar ‘The use of kipus as non-written record-keeping in
Inca society’
4.00-4.30 tea
4.30-5.00 Literacy in the ancient Mediterranean
4.30-5.00 Kathryn Lomas and Ruth Whitehouse ‘Writing and state
development in early Italy’
5.00-7.00 closing discussion followed by reception
Practical Details
The conference will take place in Room 612, Institute of Archaeology,
Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY. Because of limitations on space,
anyone wishing to attend the conference should contact
Kathryn Lomas
in advance. The seminar itself is free, but there will be a charge
of £5.00 for lunch. Anyone who wishes to book lunch must do so
before 8th November 2004.
If you wish to attend the
conference, please download our
booking form (Word
Document) and return it by post (with appropriate payment), or as an
email attachment to: Dr Kathryn Lomas, Insitute of Archaeology,
UCL, 31-34 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY. Email:
K.Lomas@ucl.ac.uk
Organised by the Social and Cultural
Dynamics and Complex and Literate Societies research groups.
