Social Justice in the Ancient World (Global Perspectives in History and Politics)

This edited collection focuses on the problem of social justice, or, more particularly, how the demand for social justice was articulated and implemented in ancient civilizations, including, from east to west, the Chinese, Indian, Iranian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Israelite, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman. These essays are supplemented by discussions of the functioning of social justice in early and medieval Islam and in the postmedieval Anglo-Saxon world. The volume contains extended discussions of specific legal regulations, royal edicts, and socioeconomic practices in the various civilizations, and examinations of their social, political, and economic consequences. Written by leading scholars in their respective fields, this volume will be of great interest to researchers dealing with the ancient world and the evolution of political philosophy and legal and economic rights. Preface 8 Part I: The Idea of Social Justice: Its Forms and Evolution 10 1. The Idea of Social Justice in the Ancient World K. D. Irani 12 2. Social Justice and the Subsistence Economy: From Aristotle to Seventeenth-Century Economics S. Todd Lowry 18 3. The Origins of a Concept of Social Justice Howard L. Adelson 34 Part II: Articulation of the Idea of Social Justice in the Ancient World 48 4. KHREMATA: Acquisition and Possession in Archaic Greece Thomas J. Figueira 50 5. Images of Justice in Early Greek Poetry Gregory Nagy 70 6. Justice and the Metaphor of Medicine in Early Greek Thought Marshall S. Hurwitz 78 7. Social Justice in Ancient Iran Farhang Mehr 84 8. Social Justice in Ancient India: In Arthasastra M. G. Prasad 100 Part III: The Practice of Social Justice in the Ancient World 108 9. The Ideological Basis for Social Justice/Responsibility in Ancient Egypt Scott N. Morschauser 110 10. Social Justice in Early Islamic Society Fereydoun Hoveyda 124 11. The Idea of Social Justice in Ancient China Thomas H. C. Lee 134 Part IV: Social Justice and Reform in the Ancient World 156 12. Social Justice in the Ancient Near East Raymond Westbrook 158 13. Social Reform in Ancient Mesopotamia Benjamin R. Foster 174 14. Prophets and Markets Revisited Morris Silver 188 15. Demands for Land Redistribution and Debt Reduction in the Roman Republic Richard E. Mitchell 208 Selected Bibliography 224 Index 226 About the Editors and Contributors 230 The Idea Of Social Justice In The Ancient World / K.d. Irani -- Social Justice And The Subsistence Economy : From Aristotle To Seventeenth-century Economics / S. Todd Lowry -- The Origins Of A Concept Of Social Justice / Howard L. Adelson -- Khremata : Acquisition And Possession In Archaic Greece / Thomas J. Figueira -- Images Of Justice In Early Greek Poetry / Gregory Nagy -- Justice And The Metaphor Of Medicine In Early Greek Thought / Marshall S. Hurwitz -- Social Justice In Ancient Iran / Farhang Mehr -- Social Justice In Ancient India : In Arthaśāstra / M.g. Prasad -- The Ideological Basis For Social Justice/responsibility In Ancient Egypt / Scott N. Morschauser -- Social Justice In Early Islamic Society / Fereydoun Hoveyda -- The Idea Of Social Justice In Ancient China / Thomas H.c. Lee -- Social Justice In The Ancient Near East / Raymond Westbrook -- Social Reform In Ancient Mesopotamia / Benjamin R. Foster -- Prophets And Markets Revisited / Morris Silver -- Demands For Land Redistribution And Debt Reduction In The Roman Republic / Richard E. Mitchell. Edited By K.d. Irani And Morris Silver. This Volume Resulted From A Conference On Social Justice In The Ancient World Held At The City College Of The City University Of New York On March 10, 11, And 13. All The Papers Read At The Conference Are Published Here, With The Exceptions ... --pref. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.