🇬🇷Greek Archaeology Unit 13 – Trade, Economy, and Craftsmanship

Key Economic Concepts

• Specialization involves focusing on producing specific goods or services, leading to increased efficiency and trade opportunities
• Division of labor assigns specific tasks to individuals or groups, improving productivity and output quality
  • Allows for the development of specialized skills and knowledge
  • Facilitates the creation of complex goods and services
• Comparative advantage occurs when a region or city-state can produce a good or service at a lower opportunity cost than others
  • Encourages trade and economic cooperation between regions
• Supply and demand influence the prices and availability of goods and services in ancient Greek markets
  • High demand and low supply lead to increased prices, while low demand and high supply result in decreased prices
• Reciprocity involves the exchange of gifts or favors between individuals or groups, strengthening social bonds and facilitating trade
• Market exchange allows for the direct trade of goods and services based on agreed-upon values or currencies
• Redistribution involves the collection and reallocation of resources by a central authority (palaces or temples)

Trade Routes and Networks

• Maritime trade routes connected Greek city-states and colonies across the Mediterranean and Black Seas
  • Facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultural practices
  • Required advanced navigation skills and shipbuilding techniques
• Land trade routes, such as the Isthmus of Corinth, linked mainland Greece with the Peloponnese and beyond
• The Silk Roads connected the Greek world with the Far East, allowing for the exchange of luxury goods (silk, spices)
• Regional trade networks developed within the Greek mainland and islands, promoting economic interdependence
• Colonial trade networks expanded Greek influence and access to resources in the Mediterranean region (Southern Italy, Sicily, North Africa)
• Sacred ways, such as the Sacred Way from Athens to Eleusis, combined religious pilgrimage with trade activities
• Emporia, or trading posts, were established in strategic locations to facilitate long-distance trade and cultural exchange

Major Trading Centers and Ports

• Athens, with its strategic location and powerful navy, became a major hub for trade in the Aegean Sea
  • The port of Piraeus handled a significant portion of Athenian trade
  • Served as a center for the exchange of grain, olive oil, and other essential commodities
• Corinth, located on the Isthmus of Corinth, controlled trade between the Aegean and Ionian Seas
  • Benefited from its strategic location and the Diolkos, a paved slipway for transporting ships overland
• Rhodes, an island city-state, emerged as a significant trading center in the eastern Mediterranean
  • Known for its strong naval presence and favorable location along trade routes
• Miletus, a Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia, was an important trading center and cultural hub
  • Played a key role in the colonization of the Black Sea region
• Naucratis, a Greek trading post in Egypt, facilitated trade between the Greek world and the Nile Delta
• Syracuse, a Greek colony in Sicily, became a major center for trade in the western Mediterranean
• Massalia (modern-day Marseille), a Greek colony in southern France, served as a gateway for trade with Celtic Europe

Traded Goods and Materials

• Agricultural products, such as grain, olive oil, and wine, were widely traded among Greek city-states and colonies
  • Grain from the Black Sea region and Egypt was crucial for feeding the growing urban populations
  • Olive oil and wine were valuable export commodities, particularly from regions like Attica and the Aegean islands
• Textiles, including wool and linen, were produced and traded by many Greek city-states
  • Miletus was famous for its high-quality wool and textile production
• Metals, such as silver, gold, copper, and iron, were sought after for currency, jewelry, and tools
  • Athens derived significant wealth from the silver mines at Laurion
  • Copper from Cyprus and tin from the Iberian Peninsula were essential for bronze production
• Pottery, both utilitarian and decorative, was a significant Greek export
  • Athenian black-figure and red-figure pottery was highly prized throughout the Mediterranean
• Luxury goods, such as perfumes, spices, and precious stones, were imported from the East and traded among the elite
• Slaves were a significant commodity in the Greek world, acquired through warfare, piracy, and trade
• Timber and other raw materials were traded for shipbuilding and construction purposes

Craftsmanship and Production Techniques

• Potter's wheel, introduced in the Late Bronze Age, revolutionized ceramic production
  • Allowed for the mass production of standardized pottery shapes
  • Facilitated the development of distinctive regional styles (Corinthian, Attic, Laconian)
• Lost-wax casting, a sophisticated metalworking technique, enabled the creation of intricate bronze sculptures and objects
  • Involved creating a wax model, encasing it in clay, melting the wax, and pouring molten metal into the mold
• Stone carving techniques, such as the use of chisels and abrasives, were used to create architectural elements and sculptures
  • Different types of stone (marble, limestone, poros) required specific tools and techniques
• Woodworking, though less well-preserved in the archaeological record, was essential for the production of furniture, tools, and ships
  • Mortise and tenon joints were used to create sturdy and durable wooden structures
• Textile production involved spinning, weaving, and dyeing techniques
  • The warp-weighted loom was a common tool for producing textiles in ancient Greece
  • Natural dyes, such as murex purple, were used to create vibrant and valuable textiles
• Glassmaking, introduced to the Greek world in the Late Bronze Age, involved the use of molds and core-forming techniques
  • Used for the production of perfume bottles, cosmetic containers, and decorative objects
• Coin minting, which emerged in the 7th century BCE, required specialized skills and equipment
  • The use of dies and hammers allowed for the mass production of standardized currency

Archaeological Evidence of Trade

• Shipwrecks provide valuable insights into ancient Greek trade routes, cargoes, and ship construction
  • The Kyrenia shipwreck (4th century BCE) revealed a diverse cargo of amphorae, millstones, and luxury goods
  • The Antikythera shipwreck (1st century BCE) yielded sophisticated astronomical instruments and sculptures
• Amphorae, used for transporting wine, olive oil, and other commodities, often bear stamps or inscriptions indicating their origin and contents
  • The distribution of amphorae across the Mediterranean provides evidence of trade networks and economic relationships
• Hoards of coins and precious metal objects can indicate the wealth and economic activities of individuals or communities
  • The Asyut hoard (5th century BCE) contained over 900 silver coins from various Greek city-states
• Excavations at ports and harbors reveal the infrastructure and organization of ancient Greek trade
  • The Zea Harbor Project in Piraeus uncovered evidence of ship sheds, warehouses, and commercial buildings
• Inscriptions, such as trade agreements, tariff lists, and proxeny decrees, provide written evidence of economic activities and relationships
• The distribution of raw materials and finished goods across the Greek world can indicate the extent and nature of trade networks
  • The presence of Baltic amber in Mycenaean tombs suggests long-distance trade in the Late Bronze Age

Economic Impact on Greek Society

• Trade and economic activities contributed to the growth and prosperity of Greek city-states and colonies
  • Athens' economic power, derived from trade and the Laurion silver mines, supported its political and cultural dominance
  • Corinth's strategic location and control of trade routes led to its wealth and influence
• The development of coinage facilitated trade and the emergence of a market economy
  • Coins served as a standardized medium of exchange, reducing the need for barter
  • The use of coinage spread from Lydia to the Greek world in the 7th century BCE
• Trade and economic specialization led to the rise of a merchant class and increased social mobility
  • Successful merchants and craftsmen could acquire wealth and influence, challenging traditional aristocratic power structures
• Economic disparities and competition for resources sometimes led to conflicts and wars between city-states
  • The Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE) was partly fueled by economic rivalries between Athens and Sparta
• Trade and colonization exposed the Greek world to new ideas, technologies, and cultural influences
  • The adoption of the Phoenician alphabet and the spread of Eastern luxury goods are examples of cultural exchange facilitated by trade
• Economic activities, such as mining and agriculture, had significant environmental impacts
  • Deforestation, soil erosion, and pollution from mining operations affected local ecosystems and landscapes

Case Studies and Notable Discoveries

• The Athenian Agora, the central marketplace and civic center of ancient Athens, has been extensively excavated
  • Revealed evidence of commercial buildings, workshops, and administrative structures
  • Provided insights into the organization and regulation of trade in a major Greek city
• The Uluburun shipwreck (Late Bronze Age) off the coast of Turkey yielded a rich cargo of raw materials and finished goods
  • Included copper and tin ingots, ivory, glass, and jewelry
  • Demonstrated the extent and complexity of long-distance trade in the Late Bronze Age Mediterranean
• The excavation of the ancient city of Olynthus in northern Greece revealed a well-preserved residential and commercial district
  • Provided evidence of household industries, such as textile production and metalworking
  • Illustrated the integration of economic activities into daily life in a Greek city
• The study of pottery workshops, such as the Athenian Kerameikos, has shed light on the organization and specialization of ceramic production
  • Revealed the use of specialized tools, kilns, and production techniques
  • Demonstrated the scale and efficiency of pottery production in ancient Greece
• The analysis of lead isotopes in silver coins has been used to trace the sources of silver used in Greek coinage
  • Confirmed the importance of the Laurion silver mines for the Athenian economy
  • Provided evidence of the circulation of silver from other sources, such as the Iberian Peninsula
• The discovery of the Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient astronomical calculator, highlighted the technological sophistication of Hellenistic Greece
  • Demonstrated the application of advanced mathematical and engineering knowledge to practical purposes
  • Suggested the existence of a highly skilled class of artisans and scholars involved in the production of such devices