ABSTRACT
This chapter contributes to the field by, first, emphasizing religious aspects of this history and, second, by seeking to articulate the value of a holistic approach over the longue duree. The political economy that structured relations between cities and villages in their hinterland, between urban elites and rural masses, remains a deeply understudied topic in ancient history. It has essential fiscal, economic, social, governmental, jurisdictional and religious components that can be disarticulated for analytic purposes, but the overall power of the system can only be appreciated by a holistic approach. The chapter draws attention to the dialogic nature of the process of claim-and-exemption in this text. The city of Teos claims the power to tax commerce and extract contributions from human and other animals owned by persons in its territory. The Romans assumed that cities with fora and juridically organized populations were the appropriate site for the operation of depersonalized institutions of governance.
