Warriors into Traders: The Power of the Market in Early Greece (Classics and Contemporary Thought) (Volume 5)

The eighth century dawned on a Greek world that had remained substantially unchanged during the centuries of stagnation known as the Dark Age. This book is a study of the economic and cultural upheaval that shook mainland Greece and the Aegean area in the eighth century, and the role that poetry played in this upheaval. Using tools from political and economic anthropology, David Tandy argues that between about 800 and 700 B.C., a great transformation of dominant economic institutions took place involving wrenching adjustments in the way status and wealth were distributed within the Greek communities.Tandy explores the economic organization of preindustrial societies, both ancient and contemporary, to shed light on the Greek experience. He argues that the sudden shift in Greek economic formations led to new social behaviors and to new social structures such as the __polis__, itself a by-product of economic change. Unraveling the dialectic between the material record and epic poetry, Tandy shows that the epic tradition mirrored these new social behaviors and that it portrayed the stresses that economic change brought to the ancient Aegean world.Tandy brings in comparative evidence from other small-scale communities beset by changes, spotlighting the specific plight of one community, Ascra in Boeotia, on whose behalf Hesiod sang his __Works and Days__. The result is a lively, moving account of a human dilemma that, many centuries later, is all too familiar.

the Eighth Century Dawned On A Greek World That Had Remained Substantially Unchanged During The Centuries Of Stagnation Known As The Dark Age. This Book Is A Study Of The Economic And Cultural Upheaval That Shook Mainland Greece And The Aegean Area In The Eighth Century, And The Role That Poetry Played In This Upheaval. Using Tools From Political And Economic Anthropology, David Tandy Argues That Between About 800 And 700 B.c., A Great Transformation Of Dominant Economic Institutions Took Place Involving Wrenching Adjustments In The Way Status And Wealth Were Distributed Within The Greek Communities.
tandy Explores The Economic Organization Of Preindustrial Societies, Both Ancient And Contemporary, To Shed Light On The Greek Experience. He Argues That The Sudden Shift In Greek Economic Formations Led To New Social Behaviors And To New Social Structures Such As The polis, Itself A By-product Of Economic Change. Unraveling The Dialectic Between The Material Record And Epic Poetry, Tandy Shows That The Epic Tradition Mirrored These New Social Behaviors And That It Portrayed The Stresses That Economic Change Brought To The Ancient Aegean World.
tandy Brings In Comparative Evidence From Other Small-scale Communities Beset By Changes, Spotlighting The Specific Plight Of One Community, Ascra In Boeotia, On Whose Behalf Hesiod Sang His works And Days. The Result Is A Lively, Moving Account Of A Human Dilemma That, Many Centuries Later, Is All Too Familiar.

The eighth century dawned on a Greek world that had remained substantially unchanged during the centuries of stagnation known as the Dark Age. This book is a study of the economic and cultural upheaval that shook mainland Greece and the Aegean area in the eighth century, and the role that poetry played in this upheaval. Using tools from political and economic anthropology, David Tandy argues that between about 800 and 700 B.C., a great transformation of dominant economic institutions took place involving wrenching adjustments in the way status and wealth were distributed within the Greek communities. Tandy explores the economic organization of preindustrial societies, both ancient and contemporary, to shed light on the Greek experience. He argues that the sudden shift in Greek economic formations led to new social behaviors and to new social structures such as the polis , itself a by-product of economic change. Unraveling the dialectic between the material record and epic poetry, Tandy shows that the epic tradition mirrored these new social behaviors and that it portrayed the stresses that economic change brought to the ancient Aegean world. Tandy brings in comparative evidence from other small-scale communities beset by changes, spotlighting the specific plight of one community, Ascra in Boeotia, on whose behalf Hesiod sang his Works and Days . The result is a lively, moving account of a human dilemma that, many centuries later, is all too familiar. The emergence of the early Greek world of the eighth century B.C. appears startling in contrast to the "darkness," of the several preceding centuries, centuries about which we know little. David Tandy investigates the roles of the economy and of poetry in that emergence, using tools from political and economic anthropology to argue that the so-called miracle of the polis was fundamentally exclusive and involved enormous human and cultural costs, that wrenching adjustments in the way status and wealth were distributed within the Greek communities led to this peculiarly Western political institution. The eighth-century release from economic stagnation brought great change to the Aegean world, as once again goods moved within and between communities. By analyzing demographic surges and the colonization movement, Tandy explores the economic organization of preindustrial societies, both ancient and contemporary, to shed light on the Greek experience. He argues that the sudden shift in Greek economic formations led to new social behaviors as the polis, itself a byproduct of economic change, began to coalesce.-- Publisher description On mainland Greece and the Aegean islands, the human condition and the number of persons experiencing it had not changed very much for several hundred years when, in the latter part of the ninth century, the population began rather suddenly to grow. Studying the economic and cultural upheaval that shook mainland Greece and the Aegean area in the eighth century, this work also looks at the role that poetry played in this upheaval.