Description
Book SynopsisThis book examines the royal economy of the Seleukid Empire, the principal successor-state to the empire of Alexander the Greek. This wide-ranging economic study shows how rulers exploited resources to finance their administrations. Adopting a highly original numerical approach, the book presents a quantified model of the Seleukid royal economy.
Trade ReviewReview of the hardback: '… the book succeeds in raising fundamental questions about the economy in imperial states. Aperghis' study is therefore relevant for more than economic history alone. Offering valuable insights into, and raising fundamental questions about, the finances of the Seleukid Empire, it is also of interest for political historians working on Greco-Macedonian imperialism in the East, perhaps even for those interested in the functioning of empires in general.' Bryn Mawr Classical Review
Table of ContentsPart I. Preliminaries: 1. Sources and methods; 2. Historical summary; 3. The posing of a problem; Part II. The Underlying Economy: 4. Geography and population; 5. Production and exchange; 6. The granting of land; Part III. The Royal Economy: 7. Ps-Aristotle's Oikonomika, book II; 8. Revenue; 9. The handling of surpluses; 10. Expenditure; 11. Coinage; 12. A model of the Seleukid economy; 13. Financial administration; General conclusions.
