Economy, Family, and Society from Rome to Islam: A Critical Edition, English Translation, and Study of Bryson's __Management of the Estate__

Bryson's Management of the Estate (Oikonomikos Logos) offers advice on the key private concerns of the Roman elite: getting rich, managing slaves, love and marriage, and bringing up children. This estate owner is a farmer and a merchant, making his money through good and effective business. His wife is co-owner of the estate and their love promotes material prosperity. Their child needs twenty-four hour supervision in 'all his affairs'. Bryson's book was almost certainly written in the mid-first century AD, but survives mainly in Arabic. It had a profound effect on Islamic thinking on the economy and on marriage, but is virtually unknown to classicists. This new edition of the text together with the first English translation will appeal to Roman social and economic historians, students of imperial Greek literature and all those interested in the development of Greco-Roman thought in the Islamic empire of the Middle Ages. Bryson's Management Of The Estate (oikonomikos Logos) Offers Advice On The Key Private Concerns Of The Roman Elite: Getting Rich, Managing Slaves, Love And Marriage, Bringing Up Children. This Estate Owner Is A Farmer And A Merchant, Making His Money Through Good And Effective Business. His Wife Is Co-owner Of The Estate And Their Love Promotes Material Prosperity. Their Child Needs Twenty-four Hour Supervision In 'all His Affairs'. Bryson's Book Was Almost Certainly Written In The Mid-first Century Ad, But Survives Mainly In Arabic. It Had A Profound Effect On Islamic Thinking On The Economy And On Marriage, But Is Virtually Unknown To Classicists. This New Edition Of The Text Together With The First English Translation Will Appeal To Roman Social And Economic Historians, Students Of Imperial Greek Literature And All Those Interested In The Development Of Greco-roman Thought In The Islamic Empire Of The Middle Ages.-- Bryson's Management Of The Estate : English Translation -- Background. Introduction ; Text And Transmission -- Economy. Property ; Slaves ; Appendix. Ibn Buṭlān's General Treatise On Slaves -- Family. The Wife ; The Boy ; Appendix I. 'plato's Exhortation Concerning The Education Of Young Men' ; Appendix Ii. 'letter Of Theano To Euboule' -- Text And Translations Of Bryson. Annotated Arabic Text And English Translation ; Text Of The Epitome (yconomica Galieni) ; Text Of The Hebrew Version ; Text And Translation Extract From The Al-azhar Recension. Simon Swain. Full Edition And Study Of Bryson's Management Of The Estate, By A Leading Expert In Both Classics And Arabic Literature. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 523-562) And Indexes. Text In Arabic With An English Translation; Yconomica Galieni In Latin And In Hebrew; Text And Translation Extract From The Al-azhar Recension In Arabic With English Translation On Facing Pages; Critical Matter In English. Contents 5 Prefatory Remarks 7 Part 1: Bryson's Management of the Estate: English translation 15 Part 2: Background 39 Chapter 1. Introduction 41 Chapter 2. Text and Transmission 123 Part 3: Economy 157 Chapter 3. Property 159 Chapter 4. Slaves 271 Chapter 4: Family 295 Chapter 5: The Wife 297 Chapter 6: The Boy 378 Part 5: Texts and Translations of Bryson 437 Annotated Arabic text and English Translation 439 Text of the Epitome in Latin (Yconomica Galieni) 512 Text of the Hebrew version 518 Text and Translation Extract from the al-Azhar recension 530 Part 6: Bibliography 535 Index of Key Modern Authors 577 General Index 579 Family, money and marriage are explored through a crucial text that transforms our knowledge of the culture of ancient Rome in its heyday; the first English translation of Bryson's work, along with a new edition of the Arabic text in which the book survives.