Includes bibliographical references and index.

Preliminary Material / L. De Ligt -- Periodic Markets in Complex Pre-Industrial Societies / L. De Ligt -- An Introduction to the Ancient Evidence / L. De Ligt -- Local, Regional and Interregional Fairs / L. De Ligt -- Periodic Markets and the Rural Economy / L. De Ligt -- Domanial Markets: Material Benefits and Social Control / L. De Ligt -- Urban Communities and Periodic Markets / L. De Ligt -- Fairs and Acces Sory Festal Markets During the ClassIcal and Hellenistic Periods / L. De Ligt -- Fairs and Accessory Festal Markets in the Roman Empire / L. De Ligt -- Bibliography / L. De Ligt -- Index Locorum / L. De Ligt -- General Index / L. De Ligt.

Periodic markets are institutions of crucial importance in all pre-industrial economies. Yet the subject has been given little atten-tion by Roman historians. The aim of this book is to remedy this state of affairs through an empire-wide study of annual, bi-annual, monthly and 'weekly' markets. The method used involves the interpretation of the ancient evidence in terms of economic and anthropo-logical theory and against the background of comparative data. Dr de Ligt starts by demonstrat-ing the continued importance of local and regional fairs throughout the im-perial period. Special attention is devoted to the role of both annual fairs and high-frequency periodic markets in the rural economy. In the second half of the book the scope of the discussion is extended to social and political aspects. Finally, the book addresses such topics as urban resistance towards neighbouring rural markets and the widespread practice of waiving customs duties for the duration of largescale religious festivals.

English

Description based on print version record.