Daily Life in Classical Athens
Description
This book presents the economic heartbeat and institutional details that shaped Athenian society during the Classical period (508-323 BCE), employing an innovative and outside-the-box approach to studying history. It answers questions about societal structure, the roles of women, foreigners, and slaves, the transformation of their economy from agrarian to maritime, and commercially-oriented. 28 short fictional stories enliven the narrative, each accompanied by rigorous academic analysis - revealing how banking, insurance, and the Athenian drachma, the internationally accepted currency of the times, shaped their world.
Exploring the symbiotic relationship between democracy and economic evolution, the book examines the sophisticated economic institutions of ancient Athens -ranging from property rights protection to market-driven price determination, anti-profiteering measures, measures to protect the Athenian currency's trustworthiness from forgery, business and labor mentality and practices, international trade patterns, as well as the existence of a robust public sector related also to the provision of a series of public goods. In a comprehensive analysis, the book scrutinizes daily life, societal structures, and customs, addressing a variety of questions such as marriage, cuisine, attire, values, and entertainment.
Employing New Institutional Economics as a methodology, the book puts together historical evidence with institutional analysis, offering an interdisciplinary lens through economics, political science, strategy, and behavioral theory. Richly supported by ancient sources, inscriptions, and a vast modern bibliography, this work not only explains ancient Athens but also proposes its socioeconomic pattern as a guide for modern societal challenges in economic governance and democracy.
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Emmanouil M.L. Economou
is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics, University of Thessaly (Greece). Further, he is a member of the Laboratory of Economic Policy and Strategic Planning (L.E.P.S.PLAN) at the University of Thessaly and a Member of the Laboratory of Intelligence and Cyber-Security, at the Department of International and European Studies, University of Piraeus (Greece). Economou's research focuses on economic history, institutional economics, defense economics and behavioral economics. He is the author of 9 books (4 in English and 5 in Greek) and he has edited two collective volumes published by Springer. Further, Economou has published 65 papers in renowned peer-reviewed international journals and collective volumes, such as Journal of Institutional Economics, Defence and Peace Economics, European Journal of Law and Economics, Economics of Governance, Evolutionary and Institutional Economics Review, Peace Economics, Peace Science and Public Policy, Homo Oeconomicus, Sustainability, Journal of Risk and Financial Management, Journal of Financial Economic Policy, Journal of Risk and Control, etc. He often writes in Greek newspapers and wider audience journals on economic, political, historical and defense issues.
Nicholas C. Kyriazis
is a Professor Emeritus at the Department of Economics, University of Thessaly (Greece). He served as the department's chairman between 2013 and 2015. Kyriazis holds a PhD in Economics from Bonn University (Germany). He had also been a visiting Professor at Harvard University and the University of Trier. Kyriazis has published 17 academic books in English or Greek language, 62 papers in distinguished academic journals (such as the European Journal of Law and Economics, the Journal of Institutional Economics, Defence and Peace Economics, Theory and Society and Economics of Governance) and 30 papers in book chapters (collective volumes). He has also published 26 novels in Greek and English. In 2005, the President of the French Republic honored him with France's highest decoration, the Knight of the Legion of Honor (Chevalier de la Legion d' Honneur) for his contribution to European integration and the preparation of the EMU as a member of the Delors-Moreau committee. Previous positions he held include, among others: Directorate-General for Research of the European Parliament, advisor to the government of the National Bank of Greece, advisor to the Ministers of Finance, and Defense of Greece respectively. He is currently a vice-chairman of the Greek Quality Assessment Committee of the Legislative Drafting Process of the Hellenic Parliament. He has also published many articles in journals for wider audience, and articles in the Greek press, for economic, political and defense issues.
Content
Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. The Athenian Oikos and the Kalos Kagathos Behavior.- Chapter 3. The Relationships Between Men and Women and the Social Groups in Classical Athens.- Chapter 4. Preparations for Receiving Guests at the Oikos .- Chapter 5. The Athenian Citizen Identity and the Administrative Organization of the Athenian City-state.- Chapter 6. The Athenian Political System's Institutions and the Manning of Posts Related to the Public Administration.- Chapter 7. Life at the Oikos , Individual and Public Hygiene, and Water Supply.- Chapter 8. The Athenian Agora and the Port of Piraeus.- Chapter 9. Ancient Greek Hospitality, Food Habits and Grain Supply.- Chapter 10. The Athenian Drachma and the Role of Money in the Economy.- Chapter 11. The Financial Institutions of the Athenian Economy.- Chapter 12. The Financial Aspects of the Silver Mining Operations.- Chapter 13. The Liturgies , the Financing of the Navy and the Tax Regime at Classical Athens.- Chapter 14. The Port of Piraeus, the Agora of Athens and Their International Role in Commercial Affairs of the Times.- Chapter 15. Insurance Premium as an Institutional Mechanism of Promoting International Trade.- Chapter 16. Ancient Greek Merchant Marine and International Commercial Routes.- Chapter 17. Highly-cost Made Eternal Athenian Monuments as a Sign of Economic Power.- Chapter 18. Managing the Athenian State Finances.- Chapter 19. The Mentality of the Greek Way of War, the Battle of Chaeronea and the Rise of Macedon.- Chapter 20. Taking Crucial Decisions in the Athenian Assembly and the Pivotal Role of Paideia .- Chapter 21. Slave Trading in the Athenian Market.- Chapter 22. The Athenian Symposia.- Chapter 23. The Sexual Life of the Ancient Greeks.- Chapter 24. The Athenian Welfare State and the Provision of Health Services.- Chapter 25. Religion and the Great Panathenaea.- Chapter 26. Marriage and Life Expectancy.- Chapter 27. The Athenian Choregos .- Chapter 28. The Famous Demosthenes Speech on the Crown .- Chapter 29. The Child as the New Member of the Family.- Chapter 30. Conclusions.