The Maritime Economy of Ancient Cyprus in Terms of the New Institutional Economics

This study considers the maritime economy of ancient Cyprus from 1450 BC to 295 BC, combining, for the first time, three distinct disciplines, that is History, Archaeology and Economic theory. The principles of New Institutional Economics are used to trace the island’s institutions and their continuity and to reconstruct its maritime history.

''This book is a pioneering attempt because it tries for the first time to interpret and reconstruct the maritime economy of ancient Cyprus by combining the theory of New Institutional Economics (NIE) with historical and archaeological evidence dating from 1450 BC (Late Bronze Age) to 295 BC (Cypro Classical Period). The combination of systematic marketing documentation with the descriptive cultural study of historical and archaeological evidence leads to a unique examination and interpretation of the Cypriot maritime economy through time.'' – Maria Michael (2023): International Journal of Nautical Archaeology

The Maritime Economy of Ancient Cyprus in Terms of the New Institutional Economics deals with the maritime economy of ancient Cyprus from 1450 BC to 295 BC, and comprises three parts which correspond to three distinct economic cycles:

• first economic cycle during the age of internationalism 1450–1200 BC
• second economic cycle during political volatility, economic growth and transformation 1200–525 BC
• third economic cycle in the Persian Empire until annexation into the Ptolemaic kingdom.

The principles of New Institutional Economics are used to trace the island’s institutions and their continuity and to reconstruct its maritime history. A unique feature is that for the first time a traditional descriptive and cultural approach is complemented by systematic and mathematical analysis and marketing documentation which results in meaningful examination of economic performance. This new approach highlights and explains the maritime economic activity of Ancient Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean in general. It brings together, for the first time, three distinct disciplines, that is History, Archaeology and Economic theory, in order to create a balanced explanation and reconstruction of the maritime economy of ancient Cyprus and of the challenges which confronted the ancient seafarers and traders of the Eastern Mediterranean. The approach and methodology is influenced by the author’s engineering, business background and training.

• | Author: Andreas P. Parpas
• | Publisher: Archaeopress
• | Publication Date: May 05, 2022
• | Number of Pages:
• | Language:
• | Binding: Hardback
• | ISBN-13: 9781803272474
• | ISBN-10: 1803272473