Poverty in Ancient Greece and Rome: Discourses and Realities

This volume explores the multifaceted condition of poverty in the ancient Mediterranean world, examining how different groups were affected by a lack of access to symbolic, cultural, and social capital. It presents a diverse and complex analysis of life in antiquity, from the archaic to the late antique period, integrating socio-economic dynamics and cultural and discursive strategies. Themes like social cohesion and control, exclusion, gender, agency, and identity are explored through archaeological, epigraphic, and literary evidence, offering a comprehensive view of Greco-Roman societies and stimulating new approaches and methodologies for their understanding.

Format: Hardback
Length: 306 pages
Publication date: 02 September 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This groundbreaking volume presents a fresh and innovative perspective on the ancient Mediterranean world, delving into the multifaceted nature of poverty and its impact on various groups throughout history. By examining the lack of access to symbolic, cultural, and social capital, the book explores the complex web of factors that shaped lives in antiquity, spanning from the archaic to the late antique period.

Collecting a diverse range of studies by an international team of experts, the book offers a comprehensive and intricate analysis of ancient life, encompassing a wide spectrum of societies. The sections on Greece, Rome, and Late Antiquity provide in-depth examinations of ancient societies, integrating socio-economic dynamics and cultural and discursive strategies that played pivotal roles in shaping these crucial elements of ancient and modern societies.

Through a meticulous exploration of archaeological, epigraphic, and literary evidence, the book delves into themes such as social cohesion and control, exclusion, gender, agency, and identity. By combining these diverse sources, the book presents a rich panorama of Greco-Roman societies, offering a stimulating collection of new approaches and methodologies for understanding these complex societies.

Spanning a wide range of contexts, from Classical Athens and Sparta to imperial Rome and the late antique towns of Egypt and North Africa, the book offers a comprehensive view of the ancient world. It examines the interactions between different social groups, including wealthy elites, poor peasants, and the destitute, shedding light on the complex web of relationships and hierarchies that characterized these societies.

Poverty in Ancient Greece and Rome: Realities and Discourses is an invaluable resource for students and scholars of ancient history, classical literature, and archaeology. Moreover, the topics covered in the book resonate with social scientists, scholars of religion, and historians engaged in the study of poverty and social history in other periods. By exploring the multifaceted nature of poverty and its profound impact on individuals and societies, this groundbreaking volume contributes to our understanding of the rich tapestry of human history.

Weight: 740g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367221140