The growth of Greek cities in the first millennium BC (Article) -- Ancient History Encyclopedia

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The growth of Greek cities in the first millennium BC

by Ian Morris, Stanford University (submitted by Jan van der Crabben)
published on 07 November 2011

In this paper I trace the growth of the largest Greek cities from perhaps 1,000- 2,000 people at the beginning of the first millennium BC to 400,000-500,000 at the millennium’s end. I examine two frameworks for understanding this growth: Roland Fletcher’s discussion of the interaction and communication limits to growth and Max Weber’s ideal types of cities’ economic functions. I argue that while political power was never the only engine of urban growth in classical antiquity, it was always the most important motor. The size of the largest Greek cities was a function of the population they controlled, mechanisms of tax and rent, and transportation technology.

Written by Ian Morris, Stanford University, linked by Jan van der Crabben, published 07 November 2011. Source URL: http://www.princeton.edu/~pswpc/pdfs/morris/120509.pdf.

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