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Includes the name: Thomas Gallant

Works by Thomas Gallant

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In this interesting article the author examines violence amongst the commoners in 19th Greece. Looking at hundreds of cases, Gallant concludes that the knife fights that were so prevalent at that time and place, were not wild street fights, where anything goes, but were in fact 'scripted' with well understood roles for both combatants and observers.

What's interesting about his conclusions is that they run contrary to previous assumptions by historians and sociologists; all of whom seemed to believe that plebians couldn't have honor, nor that they could act in a 'scripted' fashion.

Aside: Perhaps here would be a good place to describe what I mean by scripted. In the violence described by Gallant, there were certain steps that had to take place before knives were drawn. And more particularly, certain words that once spoken ALWAYS led to violence. In these scenarios, the bystanders were always passive until first blood (which was meant only to wound, not kill). Then the observers moved the men apart.... It is actually a very elaborate schema, but I hope this is enough to let you understand what I mean.

And instead the attributes of honor and it's defense are/were viewed as being only possible for the elite. This assertion of 'class' superiority is obviously outdated, though no doubt still prevalent. But in any case, Gallant demonstrates the direction that new research should go.

Personally, I found the paper well argued and documented, and I was somewhat embarrassed for my fellow historians that they were so obviously, and ridiculously, biased against the lower classes. I think the paper has wider implications and ought to be at least scanned by anyone involved in studies that include male violence.

Pam T
more obtuse material at www.pageinhistory.com/
… (more)
 
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ThePam | Jan 18, 2008 |

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