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The Gold Supply in Ancient and Medieval Times and its Influence on History

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 January 2009

W. B. Sedgwick
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Extract

The present paper is an attempt to show the far-reaching effect on history of a single economic factor, namely, the gold supply.

Type
Research Article
Information
Greece & Rome , Volume 5 , Issue 15 , May 1936 , pp. 148 - 154
Copyright
Copyright © The Classical Association 1936

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References

page 152 note 1 To what extent Trajan made use of these mines is very uncertain. See Journal of Roman Studies, 1930, p. 53 f.Google Scholar

page 154 note 1 It is usually said that they were smuggled in inside hollow reeds and kept warm by dung. The Greek word used, νάρθηξ, suggests that they were actually brought in small cases made of a single joint of bamboo, the usual receptacle for small objects in the Far East from time immemorial.

page 154 note 2 The parallel of Jewish history leaps to the eye. The love of learning, church-building, severe taxation, extravagance, and domestic scandals of Solomon irresistibly recall Justinian. Within a century of the splendour of Solomon, we find a series of prophets inveighing against oppression, luxury, land-grabbing, the influence of women, and enslavement for trifling debts.

page 154 note 3 I can only give a bare reference to the decay of Spain, following close upon her conquest of America, a conquest which is to the wars of Alexander as the Moorish were to the Persian Wars.

In our own day one cannot help thinking of the spectacular collapse of the United States following on an unprecedented influx of gold.