«Rural elites in the ancient Near East», in Jason Silverman & Emanuel Pfoh (eds.), The Routledge Handbook of the Ancient Near East and the Social Sciences, Routledge, London, 2026. By Juan Carlos Moreno Garcia

https://www.academia.edu/169045734/_Rural_elites_in_the_ancient_Near_East_in_Jason_Silverman_and_Emanuel_Pfoh_eds_The_Routledge_Handbook_of_the_Ancient_Near_East_and_the_Social_Sciences_Routledge_London_2026?email_work_card=title Rural elites were a crucial sector in ancient Near Eastern societies. Not only did they dominate the villages and territories where they lived, but they were also indispensable mediators between the rural population and the royal palace. Their status could be formally recognized through official titles, dignities, and positions, or remain shadowy as informal sources of social power capable of mobilizing material and immaterial resources that strengthened their local position. Thus, their control over local sanctuaries, ancestor cults, and patronage networks legitimized and sanctioned their decisions in the local courts and councils they dominated. Consequently, the stability of central powers depended on their ability to respect the interests of the rural elites and create the conditions necessary to harmonize the strategies and goals of both social actors. Selective gifts and co-option of eminent rural leaders were pivotal to achieving this end. ...