The economic condition of the main Cyrenaican cities (north-eastern Libya) from the Hellenistic to the mid-Roman period : textual analysis
This thesis investigates cereals, grapes and horses as key examples of Cyrenaica's agro-pastoral economic resources in the Hellenistic and early-mid Roman periods. These have been examined in three case studies to indicate the region's potential for producing annual crops, fruiting plants and animal products. Since cereals and horses are difficult to trace archaeologically and the archaeological data associated with grape cultivation and wine production is quite modest, the main database used in this thesis relates to textual evidence. This includes the literary documents of the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Ottomans, and the first European travellers. The epigraphy and a papyrus relating to the period of study are also significant data used in this project. The epigraphic data collected from the Inscriptions of Greek Cyrenaica (IGCyr), Greek Verse Inscriptions of Cyrenaica (GVCyr) and Inscriptions of Roman Cyrenaica (IRCyr) projects are the principal sources of information. Using textual data required me to implement new approaches to test the region's agro-pastoral capacity. In order to demonstrate the region's connectivity, the thesis investigates some of the imported commodities and highlights things that were
Abdelhamed, Muna H.
The economic condition of the main Cyrenaican cities (north-eastern Libya) from the Hellenistic to the mid-Roman period : textual analysis. This thesis investigates cereals, grapes and horses as key examples of Cyrenaica's agro-pastoral economic resources in the Hellenistic and early-mid Roman periods. These have been examined in three case studies to indicate the region's potential for producing annual crops, fruiting plants and animal products. Since cereals and horses are difficult to trace archaeologically and the archaeological data associated with grape cultivation and wine production is quite modest, the main database used in this thesis relates to textual evidence. This includes the literary documents of the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Ottomans, and the first European travellers. The epigraphy and a papyrus relating to the period of study are also significant data used in this project. The epigraphic data collected from the Inscriptions of Greek Cyrenaica (IGCyr), Greek Verse Inscriptions of Cyrenaica (GVCyr) and Inscriptions of Roman Cyrenaica (IRCyr) projects are the principal sources of information. Using textual data required me to implement new approaches to test the region's agro-pastoral capacity. In order to demonstrate the region's connectivity, the thesis investigates some of the imported commodities and highlights things that were
economic_condition main city north_eastern libya hellenistic mid roman_period textual_analysis investigates cereal horse key example cyrenaica agro_pastoral economic_resource hellenistic early_mid roman_period examine three_case_study indicate region potential produce annual crop fruit plant_animal product since cereal horse difficult trace archaeologically archaeological_data associate cultivation wine production quite modest main database use relate textual_evidence include literary document greeks romans arabs first european traveller epigraphy papyrus relate period study also significant data_use project epigraphic data_collect greek cyrenaica greek verse cyrenaica roman cyrenaica project principal_source information using textual_data require implement new_approach test region agro_pastoral capacity order region connectivity investigate imported commodity highlight thing