Ships and Silver, Taxes and Tribute

Hans van Wees is Grote Professor of Ancient History at University College London. His books include Greek Warfare: Myth and Realities, The Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Warfare: vol 1, The Hellenistic World and the Rise of Rome (edited with Philip Sabin and Michael Whitby), War and Violence in Archaic Greece and A Companion to Archaic Greece (edited with Kurt A Raaflaub).

• contents1. A FISCAL HISTORY OF ATHENS: WHY AND HOW?Public finance and the legend of ThemistoclesPublic finance and the Athenian statePublic finance and the Athenian economy2. ATHENS IN CONTEXT: Public finance in archaic GreeceBefore Solon: heroic precedentsBeyond Athens: late archaic inscriptions and oral traditionsOutside Greece: the impact of Persian expansion3. HAM-COLLECTORS AND OTHER financial institutionsTreasurers, Ham-Collectors, Sellers and ReceiversNaukraroi and naukrariai: the evidenceCaptains and Captaincies: an interpretation4. SHIPS, SOLDIERS AND SACRIFICES: Public spendingShips Ships’ crews and soldiers Cult, hospitality and other expenses5. TAXES, TOLLS AND TRIBUTE: Public revenueThe ‘contribution’ (eisphora) under Solon and the tyrantsThe eisphora after CleisthenesHippias’ levies and liturgies Other revenues: trade, silver mines and tribute6. From oxen to silver to coins: Media of public finance Measures of weight and volume before SolonMeasures of value before SolonPheidon, Solon and after: archaic reforms of measuresWappen, Gorgons and Owls: coinage in archaic AthensCoinage, public spending and economic development7. Conclusion: Public finance and the state in archaic AthensAPPENDIX: Persian naval expansion and the Ionian citiesBibliographyIndex