'At a time when noisy attempts to redraw the battle lines in the field of ancient economic history are being made elsewhere, this short volume provides an invaluable service. … Neville Morley is a well-qualified and genial guide. His great strength for this kind of task, as he has shown in his previous books, is in his combination of a lucid and engaging style with theoretical sophistication and a healthy dose of sound sense. … this is an excellent introduction to ancient economic history in general as well as to one specific aspect.' Journal of Hellenic Studies