Did Athens or Sparta encourage trade and travel? How did they view these activities? What types of goods were traded, and with whom? Here are some answers to these questions. Also, find out what the Greeks traded in the Ancient World. Find out what Athenians thought of trade and travel. And find out what other countries the Greeks traded with. In this article, we’ll learn about some of the reasons that the ancient Greeks welcomed trade and travel.
Was trade encouraged in Athens or Sparta?
Interestingly, Spartan men were expected to serve in the army until the age of 60. This discouraged trade in the city-state. Instead, they used heavy iron bars as money. This discouraged stealing, as it would require a wagonload of iron bars to get away with a theft. Even worse, other city-states were unwilling to accept these iron bars as payment.
The economy was a very important aspect of a community. It was the organization of goods and services among the citizens. Because Athens had a harbor and was located near the sea, trade was a major part of life. They traded with other city-states and acquired wood and grain from other regions. They also traded beautiful painted pottery and silver. In addition, they traded wine with their neighbors.
As the city developed, it also became more wealthy. Trade brought wealth to the city, but this wealth concentrated in the hands of aristocratic citizens who also acted as political leaders. This left other members of society in debt, forcing them to work in debt slavery. Additionally, the state imposed taxes on different aspects of the market, including grain. A special tax was required for traders to bring grain to Athens.
How did Spartans feel about trade and travel?
The economy of Sparta was based on farming, and the government discouraged trade. It feared that trade might introduce new ideas and weaken the government. To discourage trade, they used heavy iron bars instead of coins. Because Spartans lived inland without access to the sea, they had little need for trading ships or a naval fleet. Common goods were mostly food, olives, honey, meat, and tools, but many Spartans sought to buy beautiful Greek pottery.
The military force of Sparta was considered to be terrifying, but it achieved its goal. However, it also remained a source of pride for the Spartans. While traveling and trade were important, they also had other problems. Trade with other people, such as foreign trade, was a major cause for conflict. Trade and travel between Greek and Spartan cities was extremely difficult. While the ancient world is far removed from the modern world, we can still draw some generalized conclusions.
What was traded by Greek merchants?
The ancient Greeks learned about trade from the Phoenicians, who established many trade routes around the Mediterranean region. Athens, for example, was concerned with the trade of grain. Consequently, Athens revised its trade regulations after the first meeting of the new Prytaneis. The Greek government established a specialized committee to oversee the trade of flour and bread. This committee acted as a clearinghouse for all goods brought into the city.
Other important items that Greek merchants traded were textiles, metalwork, and olive oil. These products were traded widely and lent prestige to the city that minted them. Greeks also imported and traded ivory, gold, and copper. The ancient Greeks also traded in spices and dyes. However, there was little agreement between them. This made their trade activities extremely complicated. Nevertheless, they were successful in their endeavors, and were able to grow a large proportion of the world’s food.
As the size of their trade activities grew, so did their skills. As a result, financial techniques were developed. A typical loan for a large venture required a large sum of cash, a short duration, and a high rate of interest. Furthermore, the terms of such loans were written. These loan terms differed from those of loans between friends. In short, Greek foreign traders were completely unable to put themselves at sea without the help of lenders.
What countries did the Greeks trade with?
Ancient Greece traded with many countries. Some goods were luxury goods, such as jewelry, finely painted vases, and specialty agricultural products. Other goods were necessary, like metals, wine, and slaves. One of the most important necessity items in Athens was grain, which came to the city from places like the Black Sea, Thrace, and Egypt. In the late fourth century, Demosthenes claimed that the city of Athens imported nearly four million liters of grain annually from the Crimean kingdom of Bosporus.
Other goods that the Greeks traded with included slaves, glass, and wood. The Greeks also traded with the Phoenicians, which made them a major trading force. Some of their trade was for things like Tyrian Purple powder, which was used by the Greek elite and was unavailable anywhere else. The name “Purple Peoples” comes from this trade. The Greeks also had many trading partners in the Near East.
Who did Athens have an alliance with?
The Delian League was a military alliance formed in 478 BCE. Members of the league fought each other’s enemies. Athens was the unofficial leader of the league, which included the Greek islanders and city states of Asia Minor. This alliance was a formal affirmation of the long-standing rift between Athens and Sparta. Nevertheless, it is unknown who Athens actually allied with and for how long.
Athenian leaders feared that their alliance would be broken by the help of a Corcyraean ally, but they dismissed the Athenian fears. Corcyraeans believed that only the strength of the Athenians could guarantee a treaty. Athens would gain respect and be seen as a reliable ally. Corcyraean leaders wanted Athens to be trusted, but their alliance was not mutually beneficial.
Aristides was regarded as an agent of Athens, and his appointment to the position was a personal triumph. His appointment was in 492 B.C. and was seen as a personal victory by Thucydides. In the following year, he took over the assessment of Persia, a country that had been enslaved for fifteen years by Athens. The Thirty Years Peace essentially recognized Athens’ sovereignty over her empire, and this victory strengthened her navy.
Who did ancient Greece merchants trade with?
Who did ancient Greek merchants trade with? is a fascinating study that focuses on a relatively small period of history in ancient Greece. Reed’s work is balanced and comprehensive, offering an impressive catalogue of known traders from the classical period. Reed identifies each trader by name and juridical status, and provides commentary on their wealth and social standing. Reed provides a clear empirical basis for evaluating the ancient Greek society and how it traded with foreign countries.
The earliest Greek documents show that the Greeks traded in goods and services all over the Mediterranean and beyond. Wine, for example, was an important commodity in the ancient world. The Greeks integrated it into their social gatherings and used it as a barter for other goods such as leather, slaves, and metals. In addition, wine was also traded from Greece to other countries, as evidenced by ancient shipwrecks.
Did Athens or Sparta encourage trade?
Did Athens or Sparta encourage greater trade and travel? Both cities had different cultures and philosophies. The Athenian men ran the government and spent time away from home, working in the fields and in trade. Athenians also enjoyed hunting, sailing, drinking, and wrestling. The Spartans, on the other hand, lived in a simpler lifestyle. The differences between the two cities can be attributed to their differing views on freedom, art, and philosophy.
Athens encouraged trade and travel through taxes. It enforced various types of taxes on travelers, importing and exporting goods. Athens also required foreign traders to pay poll taxes. And it had different kinds of taxes on its trade: port, market, and transit. These taxes were used to raise money for public projects, including a large market. They also imposed two percent taxes on imported goods.
The social structure of the two cities was different, too. Sparta was the opposite pole of Athens, allowing citizens to be equal in the city, while Athens restricted civic participation to a small segment of society. In addition, Spartan life was very different from that of the other city-states, so Spartans were viewed with grudging admiration by other Greeks. The Spartans, though, were tough, and their ruthlessness was envied by many.
Why did Sparta discourage travel?
The Spartans were very rigid in their society, and they had very little time for trade or arts. Instead, Spartans focused on their military and were not interested in learning new ideas. They did not allow trade, but would sneak into the trade of other city states and steal as much of their goods as possible. It may seem strange today, but the Spartans were very strict in their society. They thought that trading with outsiders would hinder their education, and so they discouraged it.
However, there were non-citizens in Sparta. These non-citizens included slaves, women, and foreigners. They also were part of the Spartan military, and were expected to look after their husband’s property, even during war. Women were not allowed to wear perfume or jewelry, and were expected to work in the fields and produce goods for their husbands. But, Spartan women did enjoy a number of rights over women of other city states. They were allowed to own property, speak with their husband’s friends, and even marry another man if their husbands were off at war.
About The Author
Wendy Lee is a pop culture ninja who knows all the latest trends and gossip. She's also an animal lover, and will be friends with any creature that crosses her path. Wendy is an expert writer and can tackle any subject with ease. But most of all, she loves to travel - and she's not afraid to evangelize about it to anyone who'll listen! Wendy enjoys all kinds of Asian food and cultures, and she considers herself a bit of a ninja when it comes to eating spicy foods.