The Making of the Ancient Greek Economy: Institutions, Markets, and Growth in the City-States

by Alain Bresson, Steven Rendall (Translator)

Overview

A revolutionary account of the ancient Greek economy

This comprehensive introduction to the ancient Greek economy revolutionizes our understanding of the subject and its possibilities. Alain Bresson is one of the world's leading authorities in the field, and he is helping to redefine it. Here he combines a thorough knowledge of ancient sources with innovative new approaches grounded in recent economic historiography to provide a detailed picture of the Greek economy between the last century of the Archaic Age and the closing of the Hellenistic period. Focusing on the city-state, which he sees as the most important economic institution in the Greek world, Bresson addresses all of the city-states rather than only Athens.

An expanded and updated English edition of an acclaimed work originally published in French, the book offers a groundbreaking new theoretical framework for studying the economy of ancient Greece; presents a masterful survey and analysis of the most important economic institutions, resources, and other factors; and addresses some major historiographical debates. Among the many topics covered are climate, demography, transportation, agricultural production, market institutions, money and credit, taxes, exchange, long-distance trade, and economic growth.

The result is an unparalleled demonstration that, unlike just a generation ago, it is possible today to study the ancient Greek economy as an economy and not merely as a secondary aspect of social or political history. This is essential reading for students, historians of antiquity, and economic historians of all periods.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691183411
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	01/08/2019
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	648
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Alain Bresson is professor of classics at the University of Chicago.

Table of Contents

Expanded Contents vii

List of Figures xv

List of Tables xvii

Introduction xxi

I The Economy of Ancient Greece: A Conceptual Framework 1

Structure and Production

II People in Their Environment 31

III Energy, Economy, and Transport Cost 71

IV The Polis and the Economy 96

V Agricultural Production 118

VI The Economy of the Agricultural World 142

VII Nonagricultural Production, Capital, and Innovation 175

VIII The Logic of Growth 199

Market and Trade

IX The Institutions of the Domestic Market 225

X Money and Credit 260

XI City-States, Taxes, and Trade 286

XII The Emporion and the Markets 306

XIII International Trade Networks 339

XIV Strategies of International Trade 381

XV The Greek Cities and the Market 415

Appendix: Weights, Measures, and Currency Units 439

Abbreviations 443

Notes 449

Sources 531

Bibliography 535

Index 603

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"What is truly outstanding about Alain Bresson is the range of his skills: in philology and archaeology but also in the social sciences, including demography, economics, sociology, and anthropology. This is a great book and a model of its kind."—François de Callataÿ, Royal Library of Belgium

"In this lucid, fine-grained, at times meditative, and witty account of the economy of ancient Greece, Bresson's prose sparkles with a full command of the ancient sources, the economic history literature, and the debates about how to use both. This is a marvelous, evocative book that is sure to provoke reactions in many quarters."—J. G. Manning, Yale University

"This magisterial book provides an entirely new way of thinking about the ancient Greek economy. Alain Bresson is one of the world's leading authorities on the subject and has contributed mightily to reconfiguring the debate about it. Combining new theoretical approaches, a deep knowledge of ancient sources, and a remarkably wide reading in the economic history of other periods, he provides a comprehensive introduction full of detail, evidence, and argument. And he avoids jargon and insider talk, writing in a direct and clear prose that invites one in. This groundbreaking book will be read for many years to come."—Gary Reger, Trinity College

Editorial Reviews

Winner of the 2017 James Henry Breasted Prize, American Historical Association

From the Publisher

"This authoritative introduction to and survey of the ancient Greek economy translates, updates, expands, and combines the author's original two-volume French edition. Bresson documents the unprecedented and unparalleled economic growth of the Greek world from the Archaic through the Hellenistic periods. . . . [A] thoroughly informed masterwork."

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