Social and economic history of the Classical and Hellenistic period

Pre-requisites: No prerequisites

Course objectives: Acquiring fundamental knowledge on the subject of economy and society in the Greek city states during the Classical and Hellenistic period.

Course description: Basing ourselves on narrative and documentary sources, we examine the social and economic development of the Greek world during the Classical and Hellenistic period. We investigate its social structure from aristocracy to demos, foreigners and and slaves. Starting with the fundamental economic activity - agriculture, we go on to analyze the socio-economic relations in Greek city states through land ownership issues, market relations and price value of products. We chart the development of ancient monetary economy as developed through various economic branches - crafts, trade, maritime activities; another important topic is the economic dependence of city states on vast Hellenistic monarchies.

Learning Outcomes: Acquisition of knowledge on the economy and society in the Greek city states during the Classical and Hellenistic period

Literature/Reading:

• M. Rostovtzeff, The Social and Economic History of the Hellenistic World, Oxford 1941
• M. M. Austin, P. Vidal-Naquet, Economic and Social History of Ancient Greece, London 1977
• R. Osborne, Demos, Cambridge 1985
• S. Hornblower, The Greek World 479-323 BC, London 2002
• M. I. Finley, The Ancient Economy, Berkeley 1973
• F. Papazoglou, LAOI et PAROIKOI, Beograd 1997