Outsiders in the Greek Cities in the Fourth Century BC (Routledge Revivals)

by Paul Mckechnie

Overview

During the fourth century BC the number of Greeks who did not live as citizens in the city-states of southern mainland Greece increased considerably: mercenaries, pirates, itinerant artisans and traders, their origins differed widely. It has been argued that this increase was caused by the destruction of many Greek cities in the wars of the fourth century, accompanied by the large programme of settlement begun by Alexander in the East and Timoleon in the West. Although this was an important factor, argues Dr McKechnie, more crucial was an ideological deterioration of loyalties to the city: the polis was no longer absolutely normative in the fourth century and Hellenistic periods.

With so many outsiders with specialist skills, Alexander and his successors were able to recruit the armies and colonists needed to conquer and maintain empires many times larger than any single polis had ever controlled.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781317808008
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	02/04/2014
Series:	Routledge Revivals
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	242
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Mckechnie, Paul

Table of Contents

Preface; List of Abbreviations; 1. Introduction 2. Outsiders and exiles: establishment perceptions 3. Cities founded or destroyed in the fourth century 4. Mercenary soldiers and life outside the cities 5. Leistai 6. Mobile skilled workers 7. Traders 8. The kings’ friends; Bibliography; Index