Transformations of Island Societies in the Eastern Mediterranean: a Three-Case Study Analysis (1830-1911)

During the 19th century, economic changes (expansion of trade networks and industrialisation) and geopolitical shifts (decline of the Ottoman Empire and rise of nation-states) reshaped the socioeconomic structure of Eastern Mediterranean islands, leading to both new opportunities and the decline of traditional economic activities. Transformations of Island Societies in the Eastern Mediterranean (1830-1911): a Three-Case Study Analysis (TransISLES) proposes a pioneering comparative study on the socioeconomic changes of nineteenth-century island societies in the Aegean and Ionian archipelagoes. The project focuses on three small islands – Thera (Santorini), Tinos, and Ithaca – each of which exhibits distinct political, economic, and social characteristics, integrated into different sea regions and trade networks, serving as representative case studies for Eastern Mediterranean. Using as the main indicator of analysis the family unit in its demographic, social, economic, and material context, TransISLES aims to examine how transformative processes in the Eastern Mediterranean affected the socioeconomic fabric of these islands, revealing differences and commonalities across geographical areas and social groups. The project adopts an interdisciplinary approach that combines maritime history, island studies, family history, demographic history, gender studies, and material culture studies, together with the integration of digital humanities tools. Through a two-tiered analysis, merging macro-level quantitative studies of demographic and occupational data with micro-level examinations of individual families, TransISLES will explore the evolution of social and economic hierarchies, patterns of social mobility, cultural perceptions of socioeconomic status, and gender regimes on these islands. TransISLES will address critical research gaps and offer a groundbreaking contribution to understanding how island societies adapted to significant political and economic changes.