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Landscape Change and Trade in Ancient Greece: Evidence from Pollen Data

Author

Listed:
  • Adam Izdebski
  • Tymon Słoczyński
  • Anton Bonnier
  • Grzegorz Koloch
  • Katerina Kouli

Abstract

In this article we use pollen data from six sites in southern Greece to study long-term vegetation change in this region from 1000 BCE to 600 CE. Based on insights from environmental history, we interpret our estimated trends in the regional presence of cereal, olive and vine pollen as proxies for structural changes in agricultural production. We present evidence that there was a market economy in ancient Greece and a major trade expansion several centuries before the Roman conquest. Our results are consistent with auxiliary data on settlement dynamics, shipwrecks and ancient oil and wine presses.

Suggested Citation

  • Adam Izdebski & Tymon Słoczyński & Anton Bonnier & Grzegorz Koloch & Katerina Kouli, 2020. "Landscape Change and Trade in Ancient Greece: Evidence from Pollen Data," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 130(632), pages 2596-2618.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:econjl:v:130:y:2020:i:632:p:2596-2618.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/ej/ueaa026
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bakker, Jan David & Maurer, Stephan & Pischke, Jörn-Steffen & Rauch, Ferdinand, 2018. "Of mice and merchants: trade and growth in the Iron Age," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 91679, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Banaji, Jairus, 2007. "Agrarian Change in Late Antiquity: Gold, Labour, and Aristocratic Dominance," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199226030.
    3. Robert Allen & Robert C. Allen, 2007. "How Prosperous were the Romans? Evidence from Diocletian`s Price Edict (301 AD)," Economics Series Working Papers 363, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gupta, Abhimanyu & Halket, Jonathan, 2023. "Household sorting in an ancient setting," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • N53 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N73 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • Q17 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agriculture in International Trade

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