food supply

food supply

Greek

For Greek city-states of the Archaic and Hellenistic periods the ethos of self-sufficiency (autarkeia) dominated the ideology of food supply. In reality few Greek cities ever outgrew the food production capacities of their territory and the small number which did responded by intensifying agricultural production. This is well documented in the case of Athens. However, most Greek states operated in politically and environmentally unstable conditions. Weather (see climate) and warfare posed constant, but unpredictably timed, hazards. Consequently, some degree of shortfall in food supply could be expected perhaps as often as once in five years.

By ‘food’ (sitos) is meant cereals. Though other crops were grown and important in the ancient Greek diet, grain was the preferred staple, especially wheat and barley Hence shortfalls in these crops proved the most problematic at all levels. Grain...

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