2024-2025
EUROPEAN ECONOMIC HISTORY
MODULE 2: CLASSIC ANTIQUITY
KH
,The classic antiquity:
8th century BC – 5th century AD
Started around the development of the Greek city-states/the period of the famous Greek poetry
of Homer (presumed author of: Iliad and the Odyssey) around 9th-8th century BC.
Ended around the fall of the Western Roman Empire (476 AD)
These dates are utilized pedagogically due to the ambiguity, as some of these events occurred
over two millennia ago.
The period was very influential on society we know today. It is known for the development of
philosophy (e.g. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle…), democracy, and literature. The expansion of the
Roman Republic into the Roman Empire has a major part in how our society was shaped.
Furthermore, the art, architecture, law, and governance still influence today’s politicians, artists,
and more.
We have made the decision to cover ancient Greece and Rome but know that during the time
there was also the Germanic society, the Celtic society, the Carthage and more.
Examples of this can be found in Washington D.C. namely, the United States Capitol that houses
the US Senate and House of Representatives. The Capitol got its name from the Capitoline
Hill/Mons Capitolinus in Rome that used to be the political heart of the Roman Empire.
The second example was the Pope, known in Latin as “Pontifex Maximus” (Pontifex = Priest and
Maximus = Highest).
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/ancient-city-rome-plan-map--131026670386711225/
1
, Ancient Greece:
Do not mistake Greece as we know it today with Ancient Greece. Ancient Greece’s influence
stretched far beyond the borders we know today. (Dark Blue)
https://www.worldhistory.org/image/338/map-of-the-mediterranean-550-bc/
8th Century BC: The first Greek city-states were formed. A city state, also known as “Polis”, were
cities but were also considered an independent state. Ancient Greece was essentially a
collection of culturally and linguistically related but independent city states and communities.
The most famous ones were Athens and Sparta, but as seen on the map they were scattered all
over the Mediterranean Sea (Dark Blue). The reason for it not being a centrally controlled unified
state can be explained by the geography theory (wealth of nations). The theory assumes that
because of the hilly terrain of (mainland) Greece and the limited transportation methods at the
time, it would be very challenging to govern the region due to the diaiculty of crossing mountains
with an army.
The economy was built on agriculture (cattle and wheat). We will not be elaborating further on the
Ancient Greek economy.
How were these city states governed (institutions theory, wealth of nations)?
- Athens had the first “Democracy” but not in the sense as we know it today. It was a direct
democracy in the form of an assembly where any/only adult male citizen over the age of
20 had a voice. The meetings were held on the city square and everyone that matched the
previously mentioned criteria could come debate and vote on policy. The oaicials of the
democracy were part elected by the assembly and part chosen by lottery (“sortition”).
- Sparta was an oligarchy with two hereditary kings. The thought behind the two kings was
that if they were given equal authority, one could not act against the power and political
enactments of his colleague.
- Some others were ruled by a single monarch.
2
EUROPEAN ECONOMIC HISTORY
MODULE 2: CLASSIC ANTIQUITY
KH
,The classic antiquity:
8th century BC – 5th century AD
Started around the development of the Greek city-states/the period of the famous Greek poetry
of Homer (presumed author of: Iliad and the Odyssey) around 9th-8th century BC.
Ended around the fall of the Western Roman Empire (476 AD)
These dates are utilized pedagogically due to the ambiguity, as some of these events occurred
over two millennia ago.
The period was very influential on society we know today. It is known for the development of
philosophy (e.g. Socrates, Plato, Aristotle…), democracy, and literature. The expansion of the
Roman Republic into the Roman Empire has a major part in how our society was shaped.
Furthermore, the art, architecture, law, and governance still influence today’s politicians, artists,
and more.
We have made the decision to cover ancient Greece and Rome but know that during the time
there was also the Germanic society, the Celtic society, the Carthage and more.
Examples of this can be found in Washington D.C. namely, the United States Capitol that houses
the US Senate and House of Representatives. The Capitol got its name from the Capitoline
Hill/Mons Capitolinus in Rome that used to be the political heart of the Roman Empire.
The second example was the Pope, known in Latin as “Pontifex Maximus” (Pontifex = Priest and
Maximus = Highest).
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/ancient-city-rome-plan-map--131026670386711225/
1
, Ancient Greece:
Do not mistake Greece as we know it today with Ancient Greece. Ancient Greece’s influence
stretched far beyond the borders we know today. (Dark Blue)
https://www.worldhistory.org/image/338/map-of-the-mediterranean-550-bc/
8th Century BC: The first Greek city-states were formed. A city state, also known as “Polis”, were
cities but were also considered an independent state. Ancient Greece was essentially a
collection of culturally and linguistically related but independent city states and communities.
The most famous ones were Athens and Sparta, but as seen on the map they were scattered all
over the Mediterranean Sea (Dark Blue). The reason for it not being a centrally controlled unified
state can be explained by the geography theory (wealth of nations). The theory assumes that
because of the hilly terrain of (mainland) Greece and the limited transportation methods at the
time, it would be very challenging to govern the region due to the diaiculty of crossing mountains
with an army.
The economy was built on agriculture (cattle and wheat). We will not be elaborating further on the
Ancient Greek economy.
How were these city states governed (institutions theory, wealth of nations)?
- Athens had the first “Democracy” but not in the sense as we know it today. It was a direct
democracy in the form of an assembly where any/only adult male citizen over the age of
20 had a voice. The meetings were held on the city square and everyone that matched the
previously mentioned criteria could come debate and vote on policy. The oaicials of the
democracy were part elected by the assembly and part chosen by lottery (“sortition”).
- Sparta was an oligarchy with two hereditary kings. The thought behind the two kings was
that if they were given equal authority, one could not act against the power and political
enactments of his colleague.
- Some others were ruled by a single monarch.
2
