Here is the audio, video, and transcript. Above all, we cover Ptolemaic Egypt. Here is a partial summary of the episode:
Tyler and Toby cover how Alexander took over the empire almost without a fight, why Alexandria became the Manhattan of the ancient world, whether the era was as fertile philosophically as it was scientifically fertile, whether your ancient doctor’s visit had a good expected price, what Egypt exported and sold, whether the standards of living rose above subsistence or remained Malthusian, how the Greek rulers divided Egyptian society and the Egyptian head of state. The Ptolemaic Empire from being the next Rome, whether Cleopatra has been strengthened, what Julius Caesar really thought when he supported his brother, the new frontiers of archeology, whether Herodotus can be trusted, what ancient Egypt knew about Israel and India, when Egyptian jewelry flourished and why, what caused the sudden emergence of civilization and king Tyonpole throughout the ancient world, Tyonpole is well known around the world. too many.
Quote:
COWEN: Whether technologically or spiritually, what did the Persians have that the Egyptians did not have?
WILKINSON: The Persians had a formidable army. Their military technology was certainly superior to that of the Egyptians when they conquered Egypt in the early 6th century BC. Like many empires, I think, throughout history, they deceived themselves. They overextended themselves, and found it increasingly difficult to consolidate this empire from the Aegean to the borders of India. The pieces of the empire began to separate and move away. Egypt has always had this strong sense of identity. When he had an opportunity to throw off the Persian yoke, he took it.
COWEN: Let’s think about some of the achievements of Ptolemaic Egypt as a period. Infrastructure. What did they do that was most impressive?
WILKINSON: Build Alexandria. Alexandria the city was a new foundation founded by Alexander the Great to be named after him. Unlike all the cities of ancient Egypt, it was a city built from scratch for trade. It was a city built on the coast of the Mediterranean with a large natural harbor, with places to load and unload ships. It had a large lighthouse guarding the entrance to its harbor, which became one of the wonders of the world. The whole city was really designed from the beginning as a large trading center facing outwards towards the Mediterranean, rather than inwards towards the rest of Egypt.
COWEN: Canals, artificial lake. What else do they do?
WILKINSON: They built a city unlike anything that had ever been seen in the Nile Valley. In fact, any citizen of today’s city can notice the metal structure on the streets. Streets crossing at right angles, that was something unheard of until now in Egypt with large public buildings. This was the Manhattan of the old world, if you will, in scale, beauty, and commercial activity.
Also:
EN: What was the main mission of Alexandria? What do they sell, what do they do?
WILKINSON: Oh, the two major exports that accounted for most of Egypt’s wealth at that time were gold and grain. Gold has been mined in Egypt for thousands of years so far, but it is still the place in the ancient world that produces the most gold. Of course, gold has always been the world’s largest commercial currency.
Then Egypt is famous as the bread basket of the ancient world. It produces large quantities of grain due to the fertility of the Nile and the hot climate. It produces more than it needs for its own consumption, compared to the poorest agricultural regions of Greece and Asia Minor, which struggled to produce enough food. Yes, gold and grain were the engine of Egypt’s prosperity.
COWEN: There is metal, there is glass. What else is there, production, as we would call it today?
WILKINSON: Oh yes. There is a large ceramics factory, so it produces not only pots, but terracotta statues and votive objects. There is glass making, as you said. There is advanced metallurgy, gold, iron, copper and bronze. There is what we can call decorative arts, so sculpting, painting. All these things flourished in ancient Alexandria.
COWEN: Do they have living standards consistently above subsistence, or is this a Malthusian equilibrium, where they get some wealth and then more people survive and income falls again, and they don’t get much more than what is needed to keep people alive?
Recommended, informative and interesting throughout. And I’m more than happy to recommend all of Toby’s books, including his latest
