Money, Warfare and Power in the Ancient World

More about the book

This volume presents eleven papers that analyze the monetization of warfare and its ties to political power in antiquity. The contributions investigate how influential individuals and states utilized money and coinage to further their goals, often revealing that these aims were shaped by the very medium of coined money, leading to unintended consequences. The intricate relationships between money, warfare, and political power—both personal and collective—are examined across various cultures and socio-political systems throughout the ancient Mediterranean, from Pharaonic Egypt to Late Antique Europe. This collection also honors Professor Matthew Trundle, a dedicated scholar and teacher who significantly advanced the study of Classics in New Zealand and beyond. At the time of his passing, he was engaged in research on the broader significance of money in the Greek world, with a central piece included in this volume, completed by his former student, Christopher De Lisle. Trundle was a pivotal figure in discussions about money and power in antiquity, and the contributions in this volume weave together many of the threads from those conversations, furthering a field that he passionately supported.