Book contents
- The Cambridge World HistoryVolume IV
- The Cambridge World History
- A World with States, Empires, and Networks, 1200 bce–900 ce
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Maps
- Tables
- Contributors
- Preface
- 1 Introduction: the world from 1200 bce to 900 ce
- Part I Global histories
- 2 Global economic history
- 3 The gendering of power in the family and the state
- 4 Slavery
- 5 The Axial Age in world history
- 6 Developments in science and technology c. 800 bce – c. 800 ce
- 7 Discourses on gender and sexuality
- 8 Art
- 9 Pastoral nomads
- Part II Trans-regional and regional perspectives
- Index
- References
2 - Global economic history
from Part I - Global histories
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 May 2015
Edited by
Book contents
- The Cambridge World HistoryVolume IV
- The Cambridge World History
- A World with States, Empires, and Networks, 1200 bce–900 ce
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Maps
- Tables
- Contributors
- Preface
- 1 Introduction: the world from 1200 bce to 900 ce
- Part I Global histories
- 2 Global economic history
- 3 The gendering of power in the family and the state
- 4 Slavery
- 5 The Axial Age in world history
- 6 Developments in science and technology c. 800 bce – c. 800 ce
- 7 Discourses on gender and sexuality
- 8 Art
- 9 Pastoral nomads
- Part II Trans-regional and regional perspectives
- Index
- References
Summary
This chapter explores the effects of empire-building on both local economies and global connectivity, and the impact imperial expansion may have had on what one might call economic growth and complexity. It deals with agriculture and its development under imperial conditions. The chapter considers the impact of governance structures and taxation on ancient economies. By financing flood control and irrigation, and maintaining the bureaucracy to implement the projects, the dynasty benefited through taxation and power, but it also fostered agrarian development and social prosperity. The use of limited-purpose money in some spheres of exchange preceded all monetary systems of the Afro-Eurasian world of the mid-first millennium and helps to explain monetization as a path-dependent process. Taxation was one of the most important means of asserting and maintaining empire both financially and symbolically. Democracy was not long-lasting, but with the Macedonian conquest of the Persian Empire, including Egypt, Greek urban culture, centered on civic interaction spread toward Central Asia and Egypt.
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- Information
- The Cambridge World History , pp. 29 - 54Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2015
References
Further Reading
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