Klappentext

The increased interest in the mutual interdependence of socio-cultural and
physical spaces has led to the fact that watercourses have gained in importance as a
formative factor of societies. Landscapes shaped by rivers provide characteristics
and specific conditions that have a major impact on the economic life of people
living in riverine contexts. Rivers are significant natural resources and offer
special opportunities for economic activities. They can act both as connecting
arteries and as borderlines. The contributions of our panel describe rivers as
dynamic factors of ancient communities and their economy. The articles presented in
this volume focus on the interrelation between river landscapes and the economic
habits of their inhabitants. The case studies cover a wide range of epochs and
geographical areas and discuss phenomena such as geomorphic and anthropogenic
changes in rivers, the role of rivers as transport and trade routes and their impact
on settlement patterns.