The Sustainability and Development of Ancient Economies: Analysis and Examples

This book provides new insights into the economic development of ancient economies and the sustainability of their development, paying particular attention to the economics of hunting and gathering societies and their diversity. It suggests that income inequality was a necessary condition for the use of economic surplus to promote development and avoid the Malthusian population trap, and that the nature of economic development altered with increased trade, the use of barter, and the supply of money. It also examines the contributions of multinational business to the economic growth of Phoenicia.

Format: Hardback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 07 July 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Drawing on modern economic theory, this comprehensive book offers fresh insights into the economic development of ancient economies and the sustainability of their progress. It delves into the economics of hunting and gathering societies, highlighting their diversity and complexity. The book presents novel theories about the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture, such as Childe's theory of this development. The Agricultural Revolution played a pivotal role in economic growth by generating economic surpluses in most cases. However, it is evident that income inequality was a crucial prerequisite for utilizing this surplus to promote economic development and avoid the Malthusian population trap. This inequality was evident in the successful operation of the palatial economies of the Minoan and Mycenaean states.

Despite this, certain post-agricultural economies proved unsustainable, leading to their mysterious disappearance. This phenomenon occurred in the case of the Silesian Únětice culture and population, with economic and ecological reasons being suggested. The nature of economic development underwent significant changes with the increase in trade, the use of barter, and the introduction of money to facilitate these transactions. These developments are examined in the context of the palatial economies of Mesopotamia and Egypt. Elsewhere, multinational businesses made a substantial contribution to the economic growth of Phoenicia, where international trade was not determined by its natural resource endowments. Thus, Phoenician economic exchange and development provide a distinct set of insights.

This book makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the evolution of human societies and will appeal to a wide range of interdisciplinary scholars, including economists (especially economic historians). Its comprehensive approach and insightful analysis shed light on the complex dynamics of ancient economies and offer valuable insights into the sustainability of development in different historical contexts.

Weight: 630g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032277998