Ancient Economies in Comparative Perspective: Material Life, Institutions and Economic Thought

Contents
Introduction
Methodology for the Economic History and the History of Economic Thought of Antiquity
Ancient Economies: The Challenge of Mapping Complexity
	The Present-Day Challenge
	Area of Decision I: Boundaries in Time and Space
	Area of Decision II: Our Relationship with the Social Sciences
	Area of Decision III: Format of Analysis
	References
The Significance of Economic Knowledge for Welfare and Economic Growth in History
	The Paradox of Economic Knowledge
	Five Reasons Why Economic History Neglects Economic Knowledge and How It May Nonetheless Be Used for Explanation
		Rules of Action
		Technical Knowledge and Abilities
		Theory of Economic Growth
		Implicit Knowledge
		The Role of the History of Economic Thought
	The Social Market Economy: Economic Order and Development Based on Consensus
	Historical Illustrations of the Meaning of Economic Knowledge
		The European Monetary Union
		Monetary History, Monetary Policy and Monetary Thought in the Nineteenth Century
		Economic Controversies in the Period of the Reformation
		The Usury Debate
		The Economic Spirit in the Early Modern Period
	Antiquity: An Epilogue
	References
For a Comparative History of Economic Thought
	Introduction
	Definitions and Conceptual Tools for a History of Comparative Economic Thought
	Functions
	Examples of a Comparative Approach
	Conclusions
	References
Economics as a Comparative Science from the Historical School to Otto Neurath
	Introduction
	Looking Back at Antiquity in Nineteenth-Century Germany
	A Study in Comparability: Otto Neurath
	Lessons from History: Economics as a Comparative Science
	Conclusions
	References
Development Models
Archaeological Evidence of the Political Economy in Pre-State and Early State Societies in the Near East. Mesopotamia and Anatolia, Some Remarks and Comparisons
	A Few Preliminary Thoughts
	Economic and Political Centralisation in 4th Millennium BCE Mesopotamian World
		Economic and Political Strategies in the Early Centralised Societies of Mesopotamia
		Evidences of ‘Political Economy’ Strategies in an Emerging Early State System at the Periphery of the Mesopotamian World. The Case of Arslantepe
	A Comparison with the Economic Strategies of the Emerging Leaders in 3rd Millennium Anatolia
	Some Concluding Remarks
	References
Clash of the Titans: The Economics of Early Bronze Age Mesopotamia Between Empirical Evidence and Theoretical Models
	Introduction
	Big Models and Small Data? Unified Theories vs. Complexity
		Mesopotamian Political Economy (and History): State-of-the-Art
		We Shall Overcome
	The Economy? A Matter of Structure, Performance and Agency?
	New Tricks for Old Dogs: Rebooting Political Economy for ANE Historical Disciplines
	Conclusions: Future Directions for a New Economic and Political History of the ANE
	References
Modelling Modes of Production: European 3rd and 2nd Millennium BC Economies
	Introduction
	Modes of Production
		Kin-Ordered Modes of Production
		Tributary Modes of Production (TMP)
	Third Millennium BC: Age of Migrations
		The Pastoral Mode of Production and the Replacement of Neolithic Farmers
		Dynamics of the Growing Pastoral Mode of Production
		Water-Based Technology, Continued Expansion, Colonization, and New Trading Networks
		The Transformative Potential of the 3rd Millennium MP
	Second Millennium BC: Age of International Trade
		From Kin-Ordered to Tributary Modes of Production: Transforming and Linking Local Economies with Expanding Trading Systems
		The Growth of Trans-Regional Metal Trade in the 2nd Millennium BC
		Competing Tributary Modes of Production and the Bronze Age World System
	Concluding Discussion
		Formation and Dissolution of Modes of Production: Expansion and Constraints
		The Role of Cultural, Linguistic, and Ethnic Identities
		Ideology and Modes of Production
		The Dialectic of Transformations and Traditions
	References
Political/Ideological Display or Economic Need? The Problematical Picture of the Hydraulic Networks in Seventh Century BC Assyria
	References
The ‘Many Faces’ of the Roman Economy: Modern Preconceptions and Some Considerations on Capital, Technology, and Labour
	Introduction
	Theoretical Frameworks and Historical Reconstructions: The Case of the ‘Villa Schiavistica’
	Technological Innovation and Investment
	Capital and Organization of Labour
		The Role of Societates
		Key Factors
	Conclusions
	References
Trade, Specialisation and Growth
Weight-Based Trade and the Formation of a Global Network: Material Correlates of Market Exchange in Pre-literate Bronze Age Europe (c. 2300–800 BC)
	Introduction
	Weighing Equipment in Pre-literate BA Europe: Chronology and Distribution
	Weight Systems, Prices and Market Exchange
		Premise
		Barter or Currency?
		Weight Systems and the Problem of Currency
	A Pan-European Weight System
		Theoretical Units
		Meta Systems
		Method
		Expectations
		The Sample
		Analysis
		Discussion
	Conclusions
	References
Specialisation, Exchanges and Socio-Economic Strategies of Italian Bronze Age Elites: The Case of Aegean-Type Pottery
	Introduction
	The Archaeological Framework
		Local Pottery Technology
		Aegean and Italo-Mycenaean Pottery
		Technological Transfer
		Italo-Mycenaean Pottery and Other Wares of Aegean Derivation
	Technological Specialisation and Social Organisation
		Continuous and Discontinuous Technological Innovations: Disappearance and Reappearance of Technological Innovations
	Back to Italy
	Conclusions
	References
The Economic and Productive Processes in the Hellenistic ‘Globalization’: From the Archaeological Documentation to the Historical Reconstruction
	Introduction
	Hellenism
	The Management of the Production Systems
	The Mediterranean Network
	References
New Institutional Economics and the Rhodian Economy: Some Preliminary Considerations
	References
Debts, Slaves and Finance
The Edicts of Debt Remission: A Political Tool of Economic Intervention
	Introduction
	What the Edict of Debt Remission Is
	How the Edicts Were Implemented
	What Effects the Edict Could Cause
	Conclusions
	References
Some Observations on the Development of a Sacred Economy from the Archaic Age up to Hellenism
	Introduction
	The Establishment of Divine Funds: Seventh and Sixth Century B.C.
	The Impact of Monetization Over the Sacred Economy: Sixth Century B.C.
	Monitoring the Hoarded Assets, Tracking Incomes and Expenses: Fifth Century B.C.
	The Transformations Occurred in the Great Sanctuaries During the Late Classical and Hellenistic Age: Fourth Century B.C.
	Conclusions
	References
Debt and Usury: Economic and Financial Questions in the Roman Republic (Fifth–First Century B.C.)
	Ancient Sources and Modern Historiography
	Debts and Debtors in the Early Republic
	Usury in the Early Republic
	Indebtedness and Usury between the Third and Second Century B.C.
	The Last Century of the Republic
	References
The Two-Way Relationship Between Freedman and Business in the Roman World
	References
Slaves Sales in the Roman Empire and Perspectives of Comparison
	Texts Discussed
	References