Land and Labor in the Greek World

What value did the Greeks put on farming beyond its capacity to produce food? Who owned the land, and who worked it? Alison Burford examines the Greeks’ preoccupation with land and agriculture to understand the nature of their society and culture in general. She focuses on how the need to make the land productive influenced social, economic, and cultural beliefs and practices throughout Greek society. Specific areas of study include land allotment in the early settlements, the function of the antidosis, Xenophon’s true intent in his Oeconomicus, the understanding and use of the term peasant, environmental concerns, and nationalist feelings among tied laborers.

Author Biography

Alison Burford teaches in the Department of Classics at the University of North Carolina, Asheville. Her previous books include The Greek Temple at Epidauros and Craftsmen in Greek and Roman Society.