of Alexandria and Naucratis, the king owned all land and virtually all means
of production as well as controlled all commerce. The goal was to squeeze as
much wealth as possible for the dynasty’s use, much of which was then
expended onfighting wars with other Hellenistic states. Grain and all other
export commodities were taxed several times and attracted compulsory
warehouse, lading, and shipping charges. Yet so much grain was produced
so efficiently it still undersold all other grain on the Greek market. Imports
into Egypt such as timber, metals, oil, wine, and horses were often assessed
duties up to 300 percent of their value.
The Hellenistic state-directed commercial model did not completely replace
the more free-wheeling system that had emerged under the classical Greeks.
Rather, as in earlier times, the two existed side-by-side with the Hellenistic
kings themselves often playing the role of entrepreneur on the international
market. Trade in the Hellenistic world reached a peak in the mid-third
centuryBCEand declined thereafter due to a series of natural and manmade
problems, not the least of which were the results of economic disruption
resulting from chronic warfare among Alexander’s successors. This did not
prove to be a good time for such indulgences. To the west the Second Punic
War caused great destruction and economic dislocation, and shortly there-
after Roman armies moved into the eastern Mediterranean, where they dis-
membered Macedonia, crippled the Seleucid Empire, cowed Ptolemaic
Egypt, and reduced the Greek cities. In 146BCEboth Carthage and Corinth
were obliterated by the Roman onslaught ostensibly for political reasons
although it is hardly coincidental that both were trade rivals of Rome. Other
economic powerhouses such as Massilia, Athens, Rhodes, the Greek cities of
Sicily and southern Italy, and even Alexandria would eventually be reduced
to dependent roles. The Romans extracted a heavy burden in tribute, and
wealthflowed out of all other places to the city on the Tiber.
74 Of purple men and oil merchants