Famine and food supply in the Graeco-Roman world : responses to risk and crisis

The first full-length study of famine in antiquity. The study provides detailed case studies of Athens and Rome, the best known states of antiquity, but also illuminates the institutional response to food crisis in the mass of ordinary cities in the Mediterranean world. Ancient historians have generally shown little interest in investigating the material base of the unique civilisations of the Graeco-Roman world, and have left unexplored the role of the food supply in framing the central institutions and practices of ancient society. Cover 1 Half-title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Contents 7 Dedications 10 List of tables and figures 9 Preface 11 Abbreviations 15 Maps 18 PART I THE INCIDENCE AND SEVERITY OF FOOD CRISIS 21 1 Famine and shortage 23 FAMINE AT EDESSA1 23 2 The frequency of food crisis 28 PROXY-DATA 28 Case-studies 30 THE ANCIENT EVIDENCE 34 3 The infrequency of famine 37 THE LANGUAGE OF FOOD CRISIS 38 'FAMINE NARRATIVES' 40 1. Immediate causes 40 2. Geographical range 41 3. Location 42 4. Duration 43 5. Price-movements 44 6. Epidemic disease 45 7. Response of the authorities 46 8. Behaviour of the people 48 9. Categories of victim 52 10. Mortality 54 PART II SURVIVAL STRATEGIES 61 4 Subsistence and survival: the peasantry 63 INTRODUCTION 63 PRODUCTION 68 Dispersal of landholding 68 Diversification of product 69 Storage 73 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS 75 Patronage 78 DEMOGRAPHIC BEHAVIOUR 83 5 Supply and distribution: urban communities 89 FIVE RESPONSES 89 IMPORTS 90 DISTRIBUTION 94 Anti-speculation measures 94 Distribution mechanisms 99 CONCLUSION 106 PART III FOOD SUPPLY AND FOOD CRISIS IN ATHENS C. 6OO-322 BC 107 6 The resources of Attica 109 POPULATION 109 EXTENT OF ARABLE 111 LAND USE 113 PRODUCTIVITY 115 THE HARVEST OF 3 2 9 / 8 BC 119 HOME PRODUCTION AND THE CONSUMER 121 Production in Attica 121 Area under grain 122 Wheat: barley ratio 122 Output of wheat and barley 124 Losses of wheat and barley 124 Consumption rate of grain 124 CONCLUSION 125 7 The beginnings of dependence 127 INTRODUCTION 127 GRAIN IMPORTS 130 OVERPOPULATION 133 COLONISATION AND IMPERIALISM 137 CONCLUSION 139 8 Rulers of the sea 140 CONTROL AND INTERFERENCE 140 GRAIN FOR ATHENS 143 CONCLUSION 151 9 Vulnerability and vigilance 154 THE NECESSITY OF GRAIN IMPORTS 155 BRINGING IN THE GRAIN 157 Diplomacy 157 Incentive and regulation 159 Force 162 FOOD CRISIS 164 10 From uncertainty to crisis 170 GRAIN IMPORTS 171 FOOD CRISIS 174 CONCLUSION 182 PART IV FOOD SUPPLY AND FOOD CRISIS IN ROME C. 5 0 9 BC - AD 25O 185 11 The beginnings of empire 187 INTRODUCTION 187 FOOD CRISES 188 ANALYSIS 192 Causes 192 Behaviour of the people 194 Government response 198 CONCLUSION 201 12 Rulers of the Mediterranean 202 SUPPLYOverseas suppliers 202 Italy 208 THE CONSUMER IN ROME 211 The Hannibalic War 212 Post-Hannibalic War 213 The background to Gracchus' law 215 CONCLUSION 216 13 Food and politics 218 FOOD CRISES 218 CONTEXTS OF CRISIS 223 Warfare 223 Piracy 224 Natural causes 225 Speculation 225 POPULAR REACTION 226 THE CONSERVATIVE RESPONSE 228 THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE REFORMERS 231 Number of recipients 231 Supply 234 CONCLUSION 237 14 Rulers of the world 238 FOOD CRISES 238 CAUSES OF FOOD CRISISNatural causes 247 Human error, corruption and irresponsibility 248 Warfare 248 RESPONSE OF GOVERNMENT: SHORT-TERM MEASURES 249 RESPONSE OF GOVERNMENT! LONG-TERM MEASURES 251 Administration 252 Transport 253 15 The subjects of Rome 264 APPROPRIATION OF WEALTH 265 THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SURPLUS 271 INTERVENTION AND ITS LIMITS 277 CONCLUSION 286 CONCLUSION 291 Bibliography 298 Index 315 Part I. The Incidence And Severity Of Food Crisis: Famine And Shortage ; The Frequency Of Food Crisis ; The Infrequency Of Famine -- Part Ii. Survival Strategies: Subsistence And Survival: The Peasantry ; Supply And Distribution : Urban Communities -- Part Iii. Food Supply And Food Crisis In Athens C. 600-322 Bc ; The Resources Of Attica ; The Beginnings Of Dependence ; Rulers Of The Sea ; Vulnerability And Vigilance ; From Uncertainty To Crisis -- Part Iv. Food Supply And Food Crisis In Rome C. 509 Bc-ad 250 ; The Beginnings Of Empire ; Rulers Of The Mediterranean ; Food And Politics ; Rulers Of The World ; The Subjects Of Rome. Peter Garnsey. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. 278-294. Part I. The Incidence and Severity of Food Crisis 1. Famine and shortage 2. The frequency of food crisis 3. The infrequency of famine Part II. Survival Strategies: 4. Subsistence and survival: the peasantry 5. Supply and distribution: urban communities Part III. Food Supply and Food Crisis in Athens c. 600-322 BC 6. The resources of Attica 7. The beginnings of dependence 8. Rulers of the sea 9. Vulnerability and vigilance 10. From uncertainty to crisis Part IV. Food Supply and "The first full-length study of famine in antiquity. The study provides detailed case studies of Athens and Rome, the best known states of antiquity, but also illuminates the institutional response to food crisis in the mass of ordinary cities in the Mediterranean world. "--Publisher's description The Chronicle of Ps.-Joshua the Stylite, Chapter 38.