For almost a century, archaeologists and historians have long debated the role of trade in the economies of ancient and medieval societies. Primitivist and modernist views have been at odds over the existence and role of the economy and the market in Antiquity and the Middle Ages.

The social food traditions may be roughly divided into two main categories. In one hand, feasting – being any kind of celebratory meal– is generally led to profusion and overabundance.

We are used to see chronic food shortages as a characteristic feature of ancient societies.

The organization of burial spaces evolved considerably throughout the Middle Ages. The progressive Christianization of towns and the countryside considerably modified the relationship between the dead and the living.

Fighting and warfare narratives fulfil the annals of sovereigns in the world history. Sometimes these narratives are accompanied by images, celebrating the battle achievements.

Henry E. Eccles (1962, 98) described logistics as “the bridge between the economy of the nation and the tactical operations of the combat forces.” The limitations faced by ancient societies in waging war were related to their capacity to produce, muster and transport resources in a timely fashion.

Weapons are valuable to understand societies, as they not only respond to specific issues regarding fighting techniques, but also, they present a social aspect: all soldiers did not have the same equipment.

Garments are a civilisation fact in ancient Mesopotamia. Made of linen, then wool, it is highly dependent on the development of agriculture and animal husbandry, born and developed from the 9th millennium on.

The presence of inscriptions frequently has the effect of eluding the materiality of the artifact. In many fields of knowledge, writing has thus earned a certain amount of autonomy about its physical support, and it became the focus of the analysis.

The structural weakness of States in the High Middle Ages explains the importance of social ties. This fact also justifies the central place of the notion of reciprocity, the real engine of social relations.

Food crises are a recurring phenomenon in the history of ancient societies, whether in their catastrophic form, famine, a shortage of food or purchasing power that leads directly to excess mortality from starvation or hunger-induced diseases;

The connection between settlement patterns, settlement networks and production systems are fundamental to ancient societies.