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Dominican University of California

Anatolian Ceramics: A Reflection of Society and Culture

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>From prehistory to the modern period, ceramics have played an important role in human life. This paper focuses on the history of pottery in Anatolia (Asia Minor, present day Turkey). One of the culturally richest areas in the Mediterranean, Anatolia is nestled between Europe, Asia, and Africa. This region is especially known for its remarkable and lengthy history of ceramic production, with the first archaeological evidence of clay ware dating back to the Neolithic period (c8000 - 5500 BCE). This paper discusses the ceramic ware of four distinct ruling cultures and demonstrates how materials, styles, patterns, and decorations reflect the social and economic conditions of the makers: the sophisticated Hittites (cl900 - 1180 BCE) and their elaborated vessels, the strong Phrygians (cl 160 - 650 BCE) and their ornate pieces, the embattled Lydians (c650 - 546 BCE) with their simple shapes, and the powerful Ottomans (1453 — 1923 CE) with their complex and decorative creations. In addition to the written component, this project is completed by the author’s creative replications of four representative examples displayed in spring 2007 in the Archbishop Alemany Library at Dominican Univeisity of California.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Arts
Level thesis:degree_level
Master's Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Humanities
Year
2007

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Di Menna, Marisa
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Leslie Ross, PhD
  • Kathryn Kearns, MFA

Subjects

dc:subject × 2

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:scholar.dominican.edu:humanities-print-theses-1258

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Dominican University of California
Base URL
scholar.dominican.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Di Menna, Marisa. Anatolian Ceramics: A Reflection of Society and Culture. Master's Thesis thesis, 2007. https://scholar.dominican.edu/humanities-print-theses/259