Creating a Common Polity

Religion, Economy, and Politics in the Making of the Greek Koinon

Emily Mackil author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:University of California Press

Published:19th Jul '13

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Creating a Common Polity cover

This book explores the transformation of Greek city-states into larger political entities, focusing on shared practices and economic ties. Creating a Common Polity offers a rich historical narrative.

In the ancient Greece of Pericles and Plato, the city-state, or polis, held significant power and influence. However, by the era of Alexander the Great, many of these city-states had begun to relinquish portions of their autonomy, forming larger political entities known as koina. Creating a Common Polity delves into the intricate dynamics that led to this shift, examining how shared religious practices and established economic interactions fostered political cooperation among the Greek city-states.

Emily Mackil, in this first comprehensive study in fifty years on the rise of Greek federal states, meticulously charts a fascinating landscape of political evolution. The book offers a detailed historical narrative that spans five centuries, focusing on the three most prominent regions of mainland Greece: Boiotia, Achaia, and Aitolia. By exploring these areas, Creating a Common Polity reveals how the blending of cultural practices and economic ties contributed to the emergence of a new form of governance.

Mackil's analysis is underpinned by a rich dossier of Greek inscriptions, each accompanied by English translations and insightful commentary. This scholarly work not only enhances our understanding of ancient Greek political structures but also highlights the significance of communal identity and cooperation in shaping the political landscape of the time. Through her thorough research, Mackil invites readers to reconsider the complexities of ancient Greek unity and governance.

"Offers a wealth of useful, hardly accessible information and interesting insights into the workings of Greek federal states ... recommended not only to classicists and ancient historians, but also to students of politics." Bryn Mawr Classical Review "A model of what scholarship in ancient history should ideally be: technically impeccable, theoretically bold and imaginative, rigorously argued, and-not least-a pleasure for both experts and novices to read." -- Barbara Weiden Boyd, Chair Society for Classical Studies

ISBN: 9780520272507

Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 51mm

Weight: 1043g

624 pages