Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- Preface
- List of abbreviations
- Map. The Hellenistic Near East
- Introduction
- Part I PRELIMINARIES
- Part II THE UNDERLYING ECONOMY
- Chapter 4 Geography and population
- Chapter 5 Production and exchange
- Chapter 6 The granting of land
- Part III THE ROYAL ECONOMY
- General conclusions
- Appendix I Coin hoards lists
- Appendix 2 Documents and translations
- References
- Index
Chapter 6 - The granting of land
from Part II - THE UNDERLYING ECONOMY
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 September 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- Preface
- List of abbreviations
- Map. The Hellenistic Near East
- Introduction
- Part I PRELIMINARIES
- Part II THE UNDERLYING ECONOMY
- Chapter 4 Geography and population
- Chapter 5 Production and exchange
- Chapter 6 The granting of land
- Part III THE ROYAL ECONOMY
- General conclusions
- Appendix I Coin hoards lists
- Appendix 2 Documents and translations
- References
- Index
Summary
It was suggested as a hypothesis in chapter 3 that the founding of new cities by the first Seleukid kings and the policy of land grants to cities, temples and individuals were part of a systematic effort to intensify economic activity and generate more silver revenue for the royal exchequer.
LAND OWNERSHIP
The starting point in any discussion of land ownership is the arrival of Alexander in Asia. In his edict to Priene (OGIS 1) Alexander made clear to a Greek city what he considered the status of land in its vicinity would be:
Βασιλέως Ἀλ[εξάνδ]ρου, τῶν ἐν Ναυλόχωι κ[ατοικούν]των ὅσοι μὲν εἰσὶ [Πριηνεῖ]ς, αὐτο[νό]μους εἶναι κα[ὶ ἐλευθ]έρους, ἔχ[οντ]ας τήν τ[ε γῆγ κ]αὶ τὰς οἰκίας τὰς ἐν τ[ῆι π]όλει πά[σα]ς καὶ τὴγ χώραν, ὥ[σπερ οἱ] Πριηνεῖ[ς αὑτοὶ] … αἷς ἂν δέω[νται …] τὸ δὲ … καὶ Μυρσ[ηλείωγ κ]αὶ Πε[διέωγ …] χώραγ [γ]ινώσκω ἐμὴν εἶναι, τοὺς δὲ κατοικοῦντας ἐν ταῖς κώμαις ταύταις φέρειν τοὺς φόρους τῆς δὲ συντάξεως ἀφίημι τὴμ Πριηνέωμ πόλιν …
From King Alexander. Of the inhabitants of Naulochos, those who are Prienians will be autonomous and free, possessing all their land and houses in the city and its countryside (chora), just like the Prienians themselves … as to what they might desire. The … and the … of the Myrselieis and Pedieis I make known to be my land and those who live in these villages will pay tribute. I free the city of the Prienians from the syntaxis …
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- The Seleukid Royal EconomyThe Finances and Financial Administration of the Seleukid Empire, pp. 87 - 114Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2004