Compare and contrast the approaches to the ancient economy as exemplified in M.I. Finley’s The Ancient Economy and M. Silver, Economic structures of antiquity, Chapter1. You might begin by considering the following. What is their view of models versus evidence. What kind of evidence is deployed.
How narrow or broad do they range over ancient sources? Can you detect any similarities between the two scholars? What are their attitudes toward the ancient world.
In considering M. SIlver Chapter 1, where would you locate his attitudes in terms of the current debates about the ancient economy? Which author do you think best frames the understanding of the ancient economy and why?
