Divine noise: Functions, disturbances, and resistances in early Mesopotamian social systems (ca. 2300-2100 BC)

• Applicant: Dr. Thomas Götzelt
• Subject Area: Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies ; Sociological Theory
• Term: from 2017 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 394057859

The project is devoted to an analysis of early Mesopotamian social systems of the 3rd Millenium BC, i.e. of the Akkadian Period. In compliance with social systems theory they will be conceived as environmental systems prone to disturbance. The findings will be compared to those of earlier and later social systems of this region. Firstly earlier research and its problems will be described. By means of guiding distinctions social actors and their environments will be observed. Afterwards a proposal will be made how the notion of functional equivalence as implemented by social systems theory may be used for a comparative analysis of this societal type by adducing observable findings.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants