This text provides a systematic review of Greek agriculture and warfare, and describes the relationship between these two important aspects of life in ancient communities. The author gives particular attention to agronomic as well as military details. This study shows that attacks on agriculture rarely resulted in famines or permanent agrarian depression. Trees and vines are hard to destroy, and grainfields are only briefly vunerable to torching. In addition, ancient armies were rather inefficient systematic ravagers and instead used other tactics, such as occupying their enemies' farms to incite infantry battle. The author suggests that for all ancient societies, rural depression and desolation came about from more subtle phenomena - taxes, changes in political and social structure, and new cultural values - rather than from destructive warfare.
- ISBN10 6613520306
- ISBN13 9786613520302
- Publish Date 20 September 1998 (first published 1 January 1998)
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 5 July 2012
- Publish Country US
- Imprint University of California Press
- Format eBook
- Pages 260
- Language English