Bronze Age leaders used power effectively to create stable social system

WASHINGTON - A thesis from the University of Gothenburg (Sweden) has shown that leaders in the Bronze Age knew how to use power effectively in order to create notably stable social systems.

Claes Uhner explains that tell-building societies had relatively advanced economies. Agricultural production and animal husbandry produced a good return, and the societies were involved in regional and long-distance exchange of bronzes and other valuable craft products.

“By exercising a degree of control over these parts of the economy, it was possible for leaders to finance political activities and power-exerting organisations,” he said.

According to Uhner, the leaders controlled surrounding settlements using military power. As the majority of these settlements were situated next to rivers and other natural transport routes, they could demand tribute from passing trade expeditions and act as intermediaries in the exchange of goods that took place in the region.

In addition, a large tell was a manifestation of a successful society with a long history.

Uhner also said that the sources of power could be used in strategies where they supported each other.

While economic power made it possible to master military and ideological means of power, military power was utilised to safeguard economic and ideological resources, while ideology legitimised the social system.

“By controlling tells and the activities carried out in them, leaders had an organisational advantage over the rest of the population, and others found it very difficult to build up competing power positions,” he said. (ANI)