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Considering peasant agency in the Early Middle Ages. A diachronic analysis of the archaeological record in Central Portugal

  • Catarina Tente
  • Sara Prata

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.

  • Keywords:
  • Early Middle Ages,
  • Peasant Agency,
  • Archaeology,
  • Alto Alentejo,
  • Beira Alta,
  • Social conflict,
  • rural communities,
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Catarina Tente

Nova University of Lisbon, Portugal - ORCID: 0000-0002-7944-1583

Sara Prata

Nova University of Lisbon, Portugal - ORCID: 0000-0002-5205-7522

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Chapter Information

Chapter Title

Considering peasant agency in the Early Middle Ages. A diachronic analysis of the archaeological record in Central Portugal

Authors

Catarina Tente, Sara Prata

Language

English

DOI

10.36253/979-12-215-0562-7.05

Peer Reviewed

Publication Year

2024

Copyright Information

© 2024 Author(s)

Content License

CC BY 4.0

Metadata License

CC0 1.0

Bibliographic Information

Book Title

Local Societies and Peasantry Agencies in Medieval Iberia

Editors

Juan Antonio Quirós Castillo

Peer Reviewed

Number of Pages

304

Publication Year

2024

Copyright Information

© 2024 Author(s)

Content License

CC BY 4.0

Metadata License

CC0 1.0

Publisher Name

Firenze University Press

DOI

10.36253/979-12-215-0562-7

ISBN Print

979-12-215-0561-0

eISBN (pdf)

979-12-215-0562-7

eISBN (xml)

979-12-215-0564-1

Series Title

Reti Medievali E-Book

Series ISSN

2704-6362

Series E-ISSN

2704-6079

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