Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 October 2020
The title of this chapter may seem provocative. While aport society is typically perceived to be anunambiguous concept, it is an anachronistic one whenapplied to the ancient world. 1It has yetto be conclusively proven that societies living inareas connected by waterways, and therefore withaccess to major commercial routes, differedsignificantly from other land-based urbansettlements of equal size. However, we ought topause here a moment to observe an undoubted fact,especially evident for example in Hispania: thesocial behaviours of coastal cities differ fromthose of inland settlements of a similar scale. Theevidence related to social promotion is crucial inthis case, with freedmen playing a key role. Incontrast, the noted social conservatism of inlandsocieties has contributed to the creation of a powerstruggle between such open and closedsocieties.2 Perhaps this is not theforum to discuss and clarify these issues, but itcan be argued that the society of Narona was an openone, and its port access can be considered anessential determinant of this characteristic, as itwas for most coastal cities for which there issufficient historical information. Furthermore, itslocation at the midpoint of the north Adriaticmaritime trade route enhanced the significance ofthe city.3
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