Thomas Russell. Byzantium and the Bosporus: A historical study from the 7^th century BC until the foundation of Constantinople

     The monograph represents a historical study of the city of Byzantium and its society, epigraphy, culture and economy, which seeks to establish the significance of its geographical circumstances and in particular its relationship with the Bosporus strait. Examining the history of the region through this lens reveals how over almost a millennium it came to shape many aspects of the lives of its inhabitants, illuminating not only the nature of economic exploitation and the attitudes of ancient imperialism, but also local industries and resources and the genesis of communities' local identities. Drawing extensively on Dionysius of Byzantium's Anaplous Bosporou, an ancient account of the journey up the Bosporus and on local inscriptions, what emerges is a meditation on regional particularism which reveals the pervasive influence which the waterway had on the city of Byzantium and its local communities and which illustrates how the history of this region cannot be understood in isolation from its geographical context.

Table of contents

Frontmatter

List of Figures

List of Abbreviations

Introduction: The Armpit of Greece

1. The Land of Inachus

1.1. The Bosporus and its Currents

1.2. Bosporan Identities

2. Taxation and Extortion: The Bosporus and the Delian League

2.1. Pirates, Tyrants, Kings

2.2. The Athenian Tribute Lists

2.3. The Athenian Empire: Financial Benefactor or Racketeera

3. Common Benefactors of All

3.1. Historical Background: The Rhodian-Byzantine War

3.2. Financial Stratagems and the Bosporus

3.3. Greater Byzantium

3.4. The Bosporus “Controlled-Currency” System

4. The Bounty of the Bosporus

4.1. Local Variability and Seasonal Fishing

4.2. Fishing Techniques and Fish Processing

4.3. State Involvement in the Fishing and Salting Industries

5. “The first Greek city to which we have come”

5.1. [Arist.] Oec. 1346b 26—1347a 3: Citizenship and Participation

5.2. Cults and Calendar

5.3. Inhabitant Thracians

6. Explaining Byzantium

6.1. Ancient Foundation Narratives

6.2. Institutions

6.3. Solving the “Riddle of the Blind”

7. Conclusion

Endmatter

Bibliography

Index

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