War, Food, and Politics in Early Hellenistic Athens

by: Oliver, G.J.

Price: 155,00 EURO

1 copy in stock

 During the Hellenistic era, Athens was no longer an imperial power and struggled to maintain its territory, both at home in Attica and overseas in the cleruchies. In this new thematic study of the period, G.J. Oliver assesses how political and military change affected the fragile economies of the Athenian polis. After their defeat in the Lamian war the Athenians were forced to endure a long period when foreign powers exercised enormous influence over the city. Under these conditions the institutions of the polis changed to meet new pressures. A huge amount of energy was invested by the citizen body in the defence of Attica. Individuals contributed time and money to the institutions on which the polis depended

Contents
List of Tablesxiv
List of Mapsxv
List of Figuresxvi
Abbreviationsxvii
Introduction1
Part I.Economic Vulnerabilities
1.Economic Fragilities in FourthCentury Athens15
1.1.Dependency Cultures15
1.2.Models of Dependency17
1.3.Quantifying Dependency on Imported Grain18
1.4.The Economic Realities of Moving Grain22
1.5.Ateleiathe Economic Function of Honours30
1.6.Bread Baskets: Overseas Territories37
1.7.The Taste for Gain: Financing Commerce39
1.8.The Threat of Macedon: Athenian Economies before 32241
2.Piraeus and Peraea48
2.1.Introduction48
2.2.Polis and Piraeus49
2.3.Out of Attica: The Athenian Peraea68
2.4.Athenian Territory and Polis Economies73
3.People of Attica74
3.1.Demography and Economics74
3.2.Labour and Manpower75
3.3.The Population of FourthCentury Attica76
3.4.Movements of People: a culture founded on mobility87
3.5.Settlement and Demes in Early Hellenistic Attica100
3.6.Surveying Change in the Archaeology of Attica105
3.7.Conclusion: The Fragility of Human Resources109
Part II.War in the Athenian Polis
4.Warfare and the Athenian Countryside113
4.1.Introduction113
4.2.The Years 307304 bc116
4.3.The Mid290s119
4.4.The 280s121
4.5.The 260s: The Chremonidean War127
4.6.The 250s and 240s131
4.7.The Polis and Its Territory133
5.The Dynamics of Defence: Infrastructure138
5.1.Territory, Autonomy, and Manpower138
5.2.Defensive Infrastructure in Attica c.500c.200.142
5.3.The Fortified Demes of Early Hellenistic Attica148
5.4.The Rubble Camps153
5.5.Garrisoned Attica158
6.Defending the Polis: Command160
6.1.The Structures of Command160
6.2.The Hoplite General163
6.3.The Regionalized Generalship for the Countryside164
6.4.Royal Interference167
6.5.The Piraeus and Salamis under Macedonian Leadership169
6.6.Military Command in Early Hellenistic Athens171
7.Military Manpower173
7.1.Introduction173
7.2.Protecting Attica: The Cavalry173
7.3.Ephebes175
7.4.Garrisoning the Fortified Demes176
7.5.Special Forces179
7.6.NonCitizen Soldiers183
7.7.Military Organization in Athens and Attica188
Part III.Polis Economies: Finance, Food, and Friends
8.Saving the Polis: Civic Finances193
8.1.Civic Finances in Early Hellenistic Athens: Revenues193
8.2.The Epidosis of Diomedons Archonship (2487)200
8.3.Epidosis: Honours for Benefactors204
8.4.The Salvation of the Polis and Defence of the Countryside209
8.5.Benefactors of the Athenian Polis: Buying Food213
8.6.The Financial Management of the Polis223
9.Friends Abroad: Food, Commerce, and The Economics of Benefaction228
9.1.Introduction228
9.2.The Need for Grain from Overseas229
9.3.Grain Prices241
9.4.Sources of Grain247
9.5.Civic Intervention: Sitnia255
Conclusion260
Appendices267
1.The Eponymous Archons of Early Hellenistic Athens267
2.The Hoplite Generals of Early Hellenistic Athens270
3.NonCivic Appointments in Early Hellenistic Athens272
4.Groups Represented in the Epigraphy of the Fortified Demes of Attica274
5.Analysis of the Contributors to the Epidosis of 2487 bc277
6.Regional Representation in the Epidosis of 2487 bc282
7.Imported Grain in Early Hellenistic Athens285
8.Grain Prices on Delos, 282291
Bibliography292

Subjects:
Athens (Greece) Economic conditions
Athens (Greece) History, Military
Economic history
Finance, Public Greece Athens
Food supply Greece Athens Costs
Greece Athens
Military history

xxi, 360 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm

War, Food, and Politics in Early Hellenistic Athens

by: Oliver, G.J.

• ISBN-13: 9780199283507 / 978-0-19-928350-7
• ISBN-03: 0199283508 / 0-19-928350-8
• Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2007

Price: 155,00 EURO

1 copy in stock