Professional paper

Mediterranean Islands: A Concept

A. Lopašić

Abstract

This article represents some of the results of my fieldwork and research on the islands
of Sardinia, Corsica, Malta, Sicily, Crete and Susak between the years 1962–1986.
My main filed-work in Sardinia was supported by the Social Science Research Council,
London and the University of Reading/Berks, and the ones in Corsica, Malta and Sardinia
by the Department of Ethnology, University of Cologne (Institut für Völkerkunde,
Universität Köln) forming a part of a project on the Mediterranean of which I was in
charge. The above research was also related to my M.A. Course on »Mediterranean Peasant
Societies and Social Structures« taught at the Graduate School of European and
International Studies, University of Reading between 1978–1994. The main purpose of
the article is to demonstrate the role of the islands in the Mediterranean, especially their
ability in preserving their identity in spite of many incursions from outside. Islands became
symbolized by their systems of values, and the ability to survive any attempt of
conquest or change. In this the islands received a great help in the environment which
helped these islands to remain unique and isolated until the present day.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

28347

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/28347

Publication date:

18.6.2001.

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