Morris Silver Boeken

Exploring nuptial practices in ancient Greece, the author challenges traditional views on marriage by analyzing the roles of pallake, hetaira, and nothos. He posits that marriage by sale, or pallakia, was a legally recognized form alongside conventional marriage. The book examines how geographical distance influenced bride sales and discusses the legal status of children born from these unions. Furthermore, it redefines hetaira as a single woman under her own authority, highlighting their social adaptations in Greek mythology and culture.

During the Aegean Bronze Age, the spread of woolen textiles triggered an increased demand for color. In The Purpled World, Silver reveals how Minoan and Mycenaean textile producers embedded commercial motivation into traditional rituals, and considers collapse of the Mycenaean Palaces as a manifestation of disintegration in the textile industry.

Focusing on the political economy of antiquity, this work applies theoretical economics to analyze the economic structures of the Ancient Near East. It offers insights into the economic life of the time, highlighting how universal economic principles can illuminate historical contexts and practices. The book serves as a bridge between economic theory and historical analysis, providing a comprehensive understanding of ancient economic systems.