Industry, Trade and the State in Ptolemaic Egypt

This book provides a reassessment of Ptolemaic state intervention in industry and trade, an issue central to the economic and political history of Hellenistic Egypt. Based on a full survey of Greek and Demotic Egyptian sources, and drawing on theoretical perspectives, it challenges the prevailing interpretation of 'state monopolies'. While the Ptolemies displayed an impressive capacity to intervene in economic processes, their aims were purely fiscal, and the extent of their reach was limited. Every sector was characterised by significant market activity, either recognised and supported by the state, or illicit, where the Ptolemies did make attempts to establish exclusive control. Nico Dogaer provides a full account of several key industries and presents new conclusions about the impact of Ptolemaic rule, including on economic performance. The book also makes an important contribution to broader debates about the relation between states and markets in historical societies.

About the Author

Nico Dogaer is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in Paris. He has held postdoctoral and visiting positions at KU Leuven; the University of Oxford; the University of Bologna; and New York University. He is the author of over a dozen articles and chapters on the social, economic and cultural history of Graeco–Roman Egypt.