This thesis compares the archaeobotanical remains from two Roman-era, Egyptian port sites: Berenike and Myos Hormos. A focus is put on the origin of the discovered materials, particularly in the...Show moreThis thesis compares the archaeobotanical remains from two Roman-era, Egyptian port sites: Berenike and Myos Hormos. A focus is put on the origin of the discovered materials, particularly in the context of the Silk Routes trade network of which these ports were a part. It concludes that Berenike seemingly had a larger focus on trade with Africa than Myos Hormos. Also, while both ports had Indian goods in their record, none seemed to have had a more pronounced focus on that subcontinent, although that was hypothesized beforehand. Furthermore, Berenike shows a decrease in the variety of goods traded after its period of inactivity in the 2nd and 3rd century, especially in regards to Indian goods. However, the variety and amount of local and African goods increased. The concurrent demise of Myos Hormos in this period did not seem to have an effect on the traded goods. Finally, this thesis served as a good example of how comparitive research beyond the level of the individual site could benefit the field of Silk Routes research, and which challenges this approach faces.Show less
The topic of ancient trade in the Indian Ocean has been popular for a while already. But, most of the attention was directed toward the commercial connections that the Roman Empire established with...Show moreThe topic of ancient trade in the Indian Ocean has been popular for a while already. But, most of the attention was directed toward the commercial connections that the Roman Empire established with India and China under the framework of the Silk Roads. This resulted in the research of Roman ceramic containers, the amphorae. Consequently, other aspects of the Indian Ocean trade were often ignored. However, after the discovery of Sassanian ceramic containers known as Torpedo Jars, the role of this imperial player in the Indian Oceans started being questioned by many researchers such as R. Tomber. My thesis aims to evaluate Sasanian strategies in geopolitics, trade, and economy through the use of Torpedo Jars as an archaeological marker. Through the use of literature on the topics of Torpedo Jars, Sassanian imperialism, trade, and economy my thesis aims to compare information and expand possible conclusions. The thesis introduces a thematic chapter each contributing to the discussion on the relevance of Torpedo Jars in the Sassanian activity in the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. Based on the findings from the chapters, a wide network created by Sassanians was revealed. The primary objective of the Sassanian Empire was to secure the Persian Gulf for security and economic reasons. This allowed them to possess an influential stake in the Indian Ocean trade causing a wide distribution of Torpedo Jars in the region, especially in the main trading region of India. Moreover, Sassanians in contrast to the Parthians made an effort to centralize their economy of transport container production, also supporting the further distribution of Torpedo Jars. This was exemplified by a study on the chaff-tempered ovoid jars (predecessor of Torpedo Jars in the Persian Gulf) and a comparative analysis of the production of transport containers in the Roman Mediterranean and the Sassanian Persian Gulf. Nevertheless, the topic of Torpedo Jars is still not studied enough. More excavations and archaeological surveys need to be conducted to find further evidence of the production and function of Torpedo Jars. Based on my thesis I would also encourage conducting a quantitative research method on the distribution of Torpedo Jars in the Indian Ocean producing a wide dataset with proportions.Show less
Does globalization increase inequality by exploiting the low wage of workers in developing countries? Or does it reduce inequality by allowing the wage to catch up? In this thesis, I study the...Show moreDoes globalization increase inequality by exploiting the low wage of workers in developing countries? Or does it reduce inequality by allowing the wage to catch up? In this thesis, I study the effect of trade on wages in developing and developed countries using South Africa as a case study. Conducting a regression analysis using industry-level data in South Africa from 2013 to 2019, I find that export ratio and import penetration, as a proxy of trade openness, have no statistically significant effects on wages. Meanwhile, in a much simple supplementary test by comparing the differences in trade and wage growth in South Africa and Germany, I find some preliminary indication that the difference in wage growth between the two countries may be explained by the difference in export growth, but not in import growth.Show less
The study of Indian Ocean archaeology has often focused on individual sites and has tended to focus primarily on connections between major port sites without the inclusion of smaller sites and the...Show moreThe study of Indian Ocean archaeology has often focused on individual sites and has tended to focus primarily on connections between major port sites without the inclusion of smaller sites and the spaces in between these major sites. Within this thesis I focus on the role of Sri Lanka within the broader context of the Indian Ocean trade networks. Sri Lanka has long been thought to have been a central point within these aforementioned trade networks due to its geographical location at the “center” of the Indian Ocean, coupled with its natural topography that made it an ideal safe port of call for ancient merchants. However, most of Sri Lanka’s prominence in this context is based off historical texts and sporadic archaeological evidence from major sites such as Mantai and Anuradhapura. This research will focus on a wider range of sites and archaeological evidence in order to see what exactly was Sri Lanka’s role within the broader Indian Ocean trade networks. In order to accomplish this I will create an overview of all the available evidence such as archaeological reports, scientific articles and publications related to this topic. Following this I will also provide suggestions for the continuation of this research so that it may benefit the wider academic community. These suggestions will include the application of digital techniques in the field such as LiDAR, in order to properly understand the spaces in between the major sites so that a more complete picture is gained rather than one that focuses mainly on famous urban sites. Alongside this I will also discuss methods to properly store and disseminate the data related to this research in a way that makes it more accessible to the wider academic community. Through the creation of an overview of all the available material as well as the aforementioned suggestions, I will provide a framework for the next steps to be taken in terms of research into Sri Lanka’s role in the Indian Ocean trade networks.Show less
A microhistorical approach to the history of New Netherland, which dives into the lives of several families and individuals that lived in the colony of New Netherland to, one, determine what their...Show moreA microhistorical approach to the history of New Netherland, which dives into the lives of several families and individuals that lived in the colony of New Netherland to, one, determine what their influence was on the development of the colony, and two, to show that a microhistory of New Netherland can shed new light on the existing historiography.Show less
This thesis explores COVID-19 induced economic uncertainty within South Korea, the consequences hereof for South Korea’s economic outlook, other modifiers that may be of relevance, and how consumer...Show moreThis thesis explores COVID-19 induced economic uncertainty within South Korea, the consequences hereof for South Korea’s economic outlook, other modifiers that may be of relevance, and how consumer uncertainty compares to established uncertainty indexes. It finds that economic uncertainty is present within the South Korean populace, that its effect on consumption may not be as clear cut as other literature suggests, that it impacts labour mobility and long-term economic outcomes and how risk aversion and acquaintances play a role in this. It furthermore finds that consumer uncertainty and uncertainty indexes do not always correlate, that vaccination sentiment may affect the economic outlook, how retail investors support capital markets and that consumer opinion may counterbalance trade-sector uncertainty.Show less
This thesis analyses the development of the Sino-European economic relationship in regards to the case of bilateral solar panel trade throughout the twenty-first century. The thesis illustrates the...Show moreThis thesis analyses the development of the Sino-European economic relationship in regards to the case of bilateral solar panel trade throughout the twenty-first century. The thesis illustrates the de facto economic relationship between the two powers according to international relation theory. A case study of the Chinese solar panels as a diplomatic tool, its export to the European market and the European response, and opening up of trade relations will conclude what role the solar panel export played in the development of Sino-European economic relations and which theory of international relations is most applicable in the case.Show less
The aim of this thesis is to study the intra-Asian textile trade of the Dutch East India Company (De Verenigde Oost Indische Compagnie, hereafter VOC) between the VOC’s establishment in the...Show moreThe aim of this thesis is to study the intra-Asian textile trade of the Dutch East India Company (De Verenigde Oost Indische Compagnie, hereafter VOC) between the VOC’s establishment in the Coromandel region in the southeastern coast of India and the VOC’s regional establishment at Makassar on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia during the eighteenth century. This thesis focusses primarily on the commercial dynamics of the VOC’s trade in Coromandel textiles to Makassar. The core of the thesis is built upon the trade analysis of the distribution of Coromandel textiles by the VOC in Makassar during the eighteenth century on the basis of the richness of the VOC’s bookkeeping records. The study aims to give an account of the different textile varieties the VOC traded in and the underlying rationale that governed the VOC’s commercial policy of trading in specific categories of Coromandel textiles. Therefore, this study also negotiates the modalities of the VOC’s policy that informed the trade in Coromandel textiles to Makassar during the eighteenth century. The study is situated within the realm of growing literature on the intra-Asian trade of the VOC and hopes to make a contribution to the existing historiographical discourse on the intra-Asian textile trade of the VOC.Show less
The thesis investigated if the Chinese Belt Road Initiative has brought changes in trade and investment to the economies of Saudi Arabia and Iran. Quantitative data was collected from a myriad of...Show moreThe thesis investigated if the Chinese Belt Road Initiative has brought changes in trade and investment to the economies of Saudi Arabia and Iran. Quantitative data was collected from a myriad of resources to compare the levels of trade and investment between 2010-2018. Overall, BRI has not brought changes to the economies as world affairs are a much stronger force that affect the countries and their ability to grow and develop.Show less
In this master thesis I argue that the Atlantic slave trade had considerable impact on the kingdom of Dahomey. This newly emerging trade network influenced all aspects of their society. The...Show moreIn this master thesis I argue that the Atlantic slave trade had considerable impact on the kingdom of Dahomey. This newly emerging trade network influenced all aspects of their society. The politically fragmented Slave Coast turned out to be vulnerable for the wealth of the slave trade. Endemic warfare caused fierce competition which resulted in stratocracies that tried to gain control over direct access to European merchants. Dahomey became a primary example of such a military-fiscal state. The continuous search for legitimization of power resulted in desire for wealth to strengthen their military. The execution of power through force became the guiding principle of this kingdom. The interaction with European trade organizations clearly show the dependency of Dahomey on slave trade. Acquiring direct access to the slave trade made the consolidation of Dahomey less complicated, although the Slave Coast would never become a peaceful region. Through guns and mercenaries this state managed to maintain control over the Slave Coast and with monetarization and state formation the famous king Agaja succeeded in creating a centralized empire. However, harmful depopulation and the loss of many lives made the acquired wealth came at a high price.Show less
This paper provides a preliminary critical review of current academia as it regards contact between the Roman Empire and Han imperial China, during roughly the 3rd century B.C.E. until the 3rd...Show moreThis paper provides a preliminary critical review of current academia as it regards contact between the Roman Empire and Han imperial China, during roughly the 3rd century B.C.E. until the 3rd century C.E., with the purpose of re-evaluating currently accepted facts on the basis of archaeological case studies. Archaeological case studies on the topics of Roman glass, coins, and cloth found in or en route to Han China were examined against a background of ancient written sources and modern academic writing on the topic of the ancient Silk Road network and contact between the Roman Empire and Han China. The results show Roman glass items found together with locally produced glass from coastal sites in southeast China and the Xinjiang area. Quite a few metal pendants imitating Roman coins were found in sites along the coasts of Thailand and Vietnam, particularly the Isthmus of Khra. A genuine Roman coin used as a pendant in a similar fashion was also found in Pangkung Paruk on the island of Bali. Cloth from Xiongnu tombs displaying both Hellenic and Han Chinese style elements was also found in the Xinjiang area. These finds shed light on the nature of interaction between the Roman Empire and Han China, and the objects that made the entire journey in all likelihood more often than people did. Most importantly, they contribute to the larger framework of exchange and interaction along the Silk Road network, and fill in some blanks in an often-neglected region of this topic. The need for further (re-)examination of such finds is evident.Show less
This research tries to examine if, and how, the Byzantine and Sasanian culinary traditions and diet were influenced by one another. The Byzantine and Sasanian empires had a complicated relationship...Show moreThis research tries to examine if, and how, the Byzantine and Sasanian culinary traditions and diet were influenced by one another. The Byzantine and Sasanian empires had a complicated relationship, with continuing wars on one end, and dependence on trade on the other. The silk road was situated on Sasanian land, and Byzantium was forced to use the Sasanian empire as a middle man. The respective agricultures produced basic produce for the whole empires, but for exotic spices and herbs, the empires were dependent on the silk road. There is not much written on the Sasanian diet, but a few products are known to have been cultivated. Some sources give information on the extravagant diet of the nobility, which includes different vegetables, grains, fruits, spices, meats and sweets. In the last decades there has been more research on the Byzantine empire, which also included diet. Most information about the Byzantine diet comes from dietary handbooks and descriptions, most of which are written about Constantinople. It is possible that these sources are more about an ideal diet, than based on reality. The sources describe many different fruits, vegetables, spices, meats, fish and grains. This conveys the image of an extravagant and varied diet, but the results bone isotope analysis in Greece show dietary deficiencies. It seems that at least between the capitol and the province, there is a difference of availability of food. Comparing the two diets, there are some similarities, mostly when it comes to spices. Because there is not as much data on the Sasanian diet, there are more products that are known to have been present in Byzantium and not the Sasanian empire, than the other way around. When comparing both diets to the current Iranian diet, there seems to be a continuation of some of the Sasanian traditions. There also seem to be some similarities between the Byzantine diet and the current Iranian diet. To get a clear picture of the diet of the average citizen of the empires, not only the elite, more research is needed. For example, isotope analyses of different regions of the empire.Show less
The EU is one of the world’s largest markets and an important export destination for developing countries. Especially African countries depend on the European market and are greatly affected by its...Show moreThe EU is one of the world’s largest markets and an important export destination for developing countries. Especially African countries depend on the European market and are greatly affected by its trade policies. Trade relations between the EU and developing countries have existed since the inception of the EU. For a long period, the EU has focused on the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries alone, due to their colonial ties with the EU, disregarding other developing countries. However, since the mid-1990s, the ACP countries have faced the consequences of a shifting paradigm in the EU when it comes to trade policy and development. This research focuses on the recent trade relations between the EU and ACP countries. Once the EU wishes to conclude new international trade agreements, such as the controversial Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), the European Commission, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have important roles, which influence the course of the negotiations. This research looks at the behaviour of the Commission and the European Parliament during the negotiations of the new EPAs between 2002 and 2013. The literature on the power identity of the EU in international relations is extensive, but speaks about the EU as if it were a homogenous institution. It therefore fails to distinguish the different power identities of the European Institutions. This research provides an original contribution to existing literature by distinguishing the particular identities of the Commission and the European Parliament in international trade relations. A critical discourse analysis shows that the European Parliament prioritised the concerns of the ACP countries during the negotiations and emphasised the need for development-oriented EPAs. The European Parliament challenged the arguments and negotiation tactics of the Commission, which shows that it did not agree with the course taken and intended to hold the Commission accountable. Moreover, it illustrates that the European Parliament took on the task to represent not just EU citizens, but ACP citizens as well. The Commission, on the other hand, prioritised the opening up of ACP markets, which it claimed would lead to development, and the swift conclusion of the negotiations. The Commission avoided discussing the concerns raised by the ACP countries, tried to convince others of the positive atmosphere during the negotiations, and repeatedly claimed to only have the best interests at heart for ACP countries.Show less
