The Hellenistic World: Using Coins as Sources

by Peter Thonemann

Overview

Coinage is one of our key sources for the rich and fascinating history of the Hellenistic world (323–31 BC). This book provides students of the period with an up-to-date introduction to Hellenistic gold, silver and bronze coins in their cultural and economic contexts. It also offers new perspectives on four major themes in contemporary Hellenistic history: globalisation, identity, political economy and ideology. With more than 250 illustrations, and written in a lucid and accessible style, this book sheds new light on the diverse and multicultural societies of the Hellenistic world, from Alexander to Augustus. The author assumes no prior knowledge of Hellenistic history, and all Greek and Latin texts are translated throughout.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781107451759
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	01/14/2016
Series:	Guides to the Coinage of the Ancient World
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	260
Product dimensions:	5.43(w) x 8.46(h) x 0.47(d)

About the Author

Peter Thonemann is Fellow and Tutor in Ancient History at Wadham College, University of Oxford. His first sole-authored monograph, The Maeander Valley (Cambridge University Press, 2011), was awarded the prestigious Runciman Prize in 2012. More recently, he has published a large corpus of inscriptions from Roman Asia Minor (Monumenta Asiae Minoris Antiqua XI: Monuments from Phrygia and Lykaonia, 2013) and has edited two collections of essays on the history of Asia Minor in antiquity (Attalid Asia Minor, 2013 and Roman Phrygia, Cambridge University Press, 2013).

Table of Contents

Part I. Globalization: 1. Alexander and the transformation of Greek coinage; 2. A 'big' Hellenistic world; Part II. Identity: 3. Civic identities; 4. Collective identities; 5. Hellenizing identities; Part III. Political Economy: 6. Currency systems; 7. Bronze and silver; Part IV. Ideology: 8. Kings; 9. From Flamininus to Augustus; Guide to further reading; Appendices Andrew Meadows: 1. Glossary of numismatic terms; 2. Denominational systems; 3. The manufacture and material of ancient coinage.