Oikumene 2. [antikvár]

FOREWORD The second volume of the Oikumene Annual continues the project started with the first volume published in 1976. Sixteen Hungarian and two foreign scholars present papers dealing mainly with the analogies and divergencies in the development of the inhabited areas of the ancient world that constituted the classically conceived "Oikumene". The authors are mostly interested in problems which are suitable for a differentiation between the social features common to the whole of the ancient world and those that are unique to certain societies. This volume consists of two parts. The first contains studies based on lectures given at a Budapest conference in 1974, focusing on the controversial issues of the Asiatic mode of production. Some of the authors consider that the concept of the Asiatic mode of production ought to be widely applied to ancient societies outside the classical polis, and believe it to be fundamental in establishing certain characteristic features of these societies. Other contributors have reservations concerning the applicability or correctness of this concept. However, we think that the divergence of opinions, providing a complex view of the question, will only be of advantage to the reader. We would also like to point out that the editors do not necessarily share the views and opinions of the individual writers as expressed in the respective contributions. The studies in the second part of the volume do not constitute a coherent thematical unit. They analyse the social background of certain phenomena in such spheres as law, art, philosophy and religion. We hope that this volume will help to acquaint the reader with the endeavours and achievements of the Hungarian scholars of ancient history.