Uniformity and diversity in the Mediterranean : an essay in interpretation

Abstract

The societies bordering on the Mediterranean share many characteristics. The physical environment, a similar agro-pastoral economy increasingly subject to commercialization, modest industrialization, migration, and tourism spring to mind. There are also striking class· dichotomies, and large areas are becoming increasingly underdeveloped. Dictatorships of the right and left are numerous. Mediterranean societies are also characterized by strong kinship ties, partible inheritance, and the segregation of ,women from the dangerous presence of men. The region also contains marked opposites. These include fertile areas and deserts, Christianity and Islam, nuclear and extended families, dowry and bridewealth, bilateral and unilateral descent, and town and desert orientation. The interpretation of these uniformities and diversities forms the object of this essay.