This is the most comprehensive introduction to the ancient Greek economy available in English. A team of specialists provides in non-technical language cutting edge accounts of a wide range of key themes in economic history, explaining how ancient Greek economies functioned and changed, and why they were stable and successful over long periods of time. Through its wide geographical perspective, reaching from the Aegean and the Black Sea to the Near East and Egypt under Greek rule, it reflects on how economic behaviour and institutions were formed and transformed under different political, ecological and social circumstances, and how they interacted and communicated over large distances. With chapters on climate and the environment, market development, inequality and growth, it encourages comparison with other periods of time and cultures, thus being of interest not just to ancient historians but also to readers concerned with economic cultures and global economic issues.

Editors: Sitta Von Reden, Irene S. Lemos, Hans Van Wees, Emily Mackil, Andreas Victor Walser, Zosia H. Archibald, Sylvian Fachard, Alain Bresson, Christelle Fisher-Bovet, Hilmar Klinkott, Ben Akrigg, John Wilkins, Daniel Jew, David M. Schaps, Kaja Harter-Uibopuu, Andrew Monson, Veronique Chankowski, Armin Eich, Barbara Kowalzig, Sturt W. Manning, Serafina Cuomo, Josiah Ober, Walter Scheidel

Table of Contents

1. Introduction Sitta Von Reden
Part I. Diachronic Perspectives:
2. Early iron age economies Irene S. Lemos
3. The Archaic period Hans Van Wees
4. The classical period Emily Mackil
5. Hellenistic economies Sitta Von Reden
Part II. Regional Perspectives:
6. Asia minor Andreas Victor Walser
7. Northern Greece and the Black sea Zosia H. Archibald
8. Athens and the Aegean Sylvian Fachard and Alain Bresson
9. Egypt and the Ptolemaic empire Christelle Fisher-Bovet
10. Hellenistic Babylonia Hilmar Klinkott
Part III. Structures and Processes:
11. Population Ben Akrigg
12. Consumption, nutrition and the grain supply John Wilkins
13. The agricultural economy Daniel Jew
14. The non-agricultural economy: Artisans, traders, women and slaves Daniel Jew
15. Markets Alain Bresson
16. Money, credit and banking David M. Schaps
17. Dispute Resolution Kaja Harter-Uibopuu
18. Taxation and tribute Andrew Monson
Part IV. Networks:
19. Religious networks Veronique Chankowski
20. Monetary networks Peter Van Alfen
21. Social networks, associations and trade Vincent Gabrielsen
Part V. Performance:
22. Political economy and the growth of markets and capital Armin Eich
23. New institutional economics, economic growth and institutional change Sitta Von Reden and Barbara Kowalzig
24. Regionalism, federalism and mediterranean connectivity Emily Mackil
25. Climate, environment and resources Sturt W. Manning
26. Technological progress Serafina Cuomo
27. Inequality Josiah Ober and Walter Scheidel
Bibliography.