ABSTRACT
This book, first published in 1992, presents an introduction to the nature of trade and transport in antiquity through a selection of translated literary, papyrological, epigraphical and legal sources. These texts illustrate a range of aspects of ancient trade and transport: from the role of the authorities, to the status of traders, to the capacity and speed of ancient ships.
It is clear that the actual means of transportation were crucial; the book illustrates the limitations of ancient transport technology and the consequences for the development of commerce. It focuses first on different aspects of transport over land and then on transport by river and concludes with a discussion of several aspects of ancient seafaring,
This book is ideal for students of ancient history.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|89 pages
Ideology and practice of ancient trade
chapter 1|18 pages
Greek and Roman values
chapter 2|4 pages
Forms of exchange in Homeric society
chapter 3|8 pages
Forms of exchange in archaic Greece
chapter 4|19 pages
Athens and the Athenian empire
chapter 5|12 pages
The Greek world outside Athens
chapter 6|5 pages
Egypt under the Ptolemies
chapter 7|21 pages
Trade in the Roman world
part II|39 pages
The commodities
chapter 8|10 pages
Grain
chapter 9|7 pages
Wool and textiles
chapter 10|6 pages
Wine and oil
chapter 11|3 pages
Building materials
chapter 12|4 pages
Slaves
chapter 13|7 pages
Trade with the Orient and the barbarians
part III|59 pages
Transport and means of transportation