The Public Economy of Athens, Vol. 2 of 4 : To Which Is Added, a Dissertation on the Silver-Mines of Laurion (Classic Reprint)

In The Public Economy of Athens, Vol. 2, learn how wealth, property, and taxes shaped the city’s life.

This edition dives into how Attic wealth was measured and taxed, from the early class system to Solon’s reforms. It explains how valuation worked and why Polybius’s figures may mislead unless you see the fixed, taxable portion of property. The text also ties economic policy to civic power, showing how finance influenced who could vote and hold office.

Readers will explore the practical details behind ancient fiscal tools—property registers, revenue, and the ways the state managed money, land, and public duties. The material stays focused on what was actually levied, who paid, and how those payments supported temples, justice, and army provisioning.

• How property was assessed and taxed in different social classes


• What the valuation reveals about wealth and public finance in Athens


• Connections between taxes, citizenship, and political power


• Historical notes on Solon, Pericles, and the development of financial governance

Ideal for readers of economic history and classical studies seeking a clear view of how ancient Athens funded its government and managed wealth.