The Economy of the Later Roman Province of Third Palestine

Walter D. Ward (Autor)

Buch | Softcover

134 Seiten

2024
Archaeopress Archaeology (Verlag)
978-1-80327-807-0 (ISBN)

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This book provides a comprehensive examination of the evidence for the economy of the later Roman province of Third Palestine, which roughly corresponds to southern Jordan, the Negev desert in Israel, and the Sinai Peninsula. It begins with a discussion of the historiography and attempts to create modern models (cliometrics) to explain the ancient economy. After covering this foundational material, the author uses archaeological data, papyri, and literary sources to understand agriculture and pastoralism in the largely arid province, and he examines the limited evidence for the urban economy and industry, focusing on ceramics and copper production. The next chapter looks at regional trade in the province by plotting the finds of four amphorae types and also examines the trade in fish from the Red Sea through faunal remains and papyri. The chapter ends with a discussion of the date trade and the records of a particular caravan described in the Nessana papyri. The focus then shifts to the role of international trade, including Red Sea trade through the port of Aila and trade with Mecca. Next, the economic impact of monasticism and pilgrimage on the province is appraised. The final chapter critically evaluates the role of economic modeling and quantification for understanding the economy of Third Palestine. It argues that the ancient economy was neither primitive, nor modern, but something unique that should be approached without introducing contemporary assumptions.

Walter D. Ward is Professor and Chair of the History Department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is the author of two books, Mirage of the Saracen: Christians and Nomads in the Sinai Peninsula in Late Antiquity (2014) and Near Eastern Cities from Alexander to the Successors of Muhammad (2019), and the editor of The Socio-economic History and Material Culture of the Roman and Byzantine Near East: Essays in Honor of S. Thomas Parker (2017).

Preface

Chapter 1: Introduction

Geography, settlements, and administration of Third Palestine

Interpreting the ancient economy

The traditional debate: ‘primitive’ or ‘modern’

The rise of neoliberal interpretations of the ancient economy

Market or bazaar economy?

Chapter 2: ‘Between the desert and the sown’: Agriculture and pastoralism in Third Palestine

Agriculture

The pastoralists of Third Palestine

Conclusion

Chapter 3: Urban economy, manufacturing, and resources

The urban economy

Industry: Ceramic production

Industry: Copper mining and smelting

Conclusion

Chapter 4: Regional exchange

Ceramic analysis of trade routes

Gaza amphora (LR4)

Palestinian Bag Jar (LR 5)

Egyptian amphorae

Aila amphora

Maritime animal products in Third Palestine

The date trade

One caravan’s records

Conclusion

Appendix 1: Amphorae descriptions

Gaza amphorae (LR 4)

Bag jars (LR 5)

Egyptian amphorae (LR 7)

Aila amphorae

Chapter 5: International exchange with the Red Sea and Mecca

Red Sea trade

Brief historical outline of Red Sea trade

Aila

Iotabe

Meccan trade

Nature of trade: Origins and caravans

Commodities

Conclusion: The economic implications of international trade on Third Palestine

Chapter 6: Monasticism, pilgrimage, and the economy

Monasticism in Third Palestine

Transportation and infrastructure

Supplying the Sinai monasteries

Conclusion

Chapter 7: Conclusion

A primitive or modern economy in Third Palestine… or something else?

Bibliography

Erscheinungsdatum	22.08.2024
Reihe/Serie	Archaeopress Roman Archaeology
Zusatzinfo	11 figures
Verlagsort	Oxford
Sprache	englisch; französisch
Maße	174 x 245 mm
Themenwelt	Geisteswissenschaften ► Archäologie
Themenwelt	Geschichte ► Allgemeine Geschichte ► Altertum / Antike
ISBN-10	1-80327-807-2 / 1803278072
ISBN-13	978-1-80327-807-0 / 9781803278070
Zustand	Neuware