280 PETER VAN ALfEN
One way to detect movement is to look beyond the immediate chronologi-
cal boundaries I have set, roughly 600–300 BCE, in order to identify first those
goods that were traded continuously since before and then into the Persian
period, and secondly those that were likely introduced into long-distance
trade at some point after 600 BCE. Under the heading ‘Date’ in Table 12.2
readers will find the earliest date of the particular commodity appearing in
Levantine-Aegean trade as attested textually, archaeologically, or both; the key
can be found at the bottom of Table 12.2. Although lacking, again, great pre-
cision and very much dependent on the nature and quality of the evidence,
we can still glean some impressions of a type of movement, to which I shall
return momentarily.
When dealing with commodities in aggregate we face as well problems of
definition, notably: What is a commodity (and what is it not)? How do we
differentiate between classes and types of goods? And is there a meaningful
distinction between luxury and staple goods? We shall briefly consider each of
these questions in turn.
How we define in toto the items transported long distances very much
depends on our perspective. The term ‘commodities’ in contemporaryTable 12.1. An Overview of Commodities in Aegean-Levantine Trade, c. 600–300 BCA: East to West
1) Far East (SE Asia, India, China, etc.)
Amomon, Beryls, Cinnamon/Casia, Corundum, Costos, Cotton, Eaglewood, Ebony,
Indigo?, Ivory, Lapis Lazuli, Nard, Nutmeg, Pepper, Sandalwood, Silk, Tin, Turmeric
2) Middle East (Media, Mesopotamia, etc.)
Asafoetida, Bitumen, Peacocks, Rice, Sesame (oil)
3) Arabia
Calamus, Frankincense, Laudanum, Marine Shells, Myrrh, Pearls?
4) Levant
Alabaster, Aspalathus, Antimony?, Azurite, Balm (Myrrh), Calamus, Camel’s Thorn,
Cedar, Chalk, Cinnabar, Copper, Dates, Egyptian Blue, Galbanum, Glass, Green
Earth, Gypsum, Henna, Malachite, Orpiment (Realgar), Ostrich Eggshells,
Pomegranate, Semidalis, Sumac, Verdigris
B: Aegean to the East (and Egypt)
Amber, Fineware ceramics, Fuller’s Earths, Iron, Lead, Marble (raw and finished), Silver,
Styrax, Sugar of Lead, Terracottas
C: Egypt/Africa to the Aegean and Levant
Alum, Balanos oil?, Black Cumin, Castor oil?, Cats, Ebony, Egyptian Blue, Ivory, Linen,
Monkeys, Natron
D: Asia Minor to the Aegean and Levant
Crimson, Lykion, Saffron, Styrax, Touchstone
E: ubiquitous
Alkanet, Almond (oil), Arms?, Art works, Chalcedony, Cumin, Figs, Furniture,
Galingale, Garnet, Gold, Hides, Jewelry, Lichens, Livestock, Madder?, Marine Purple,
Metalware, Ochre?, Olive oil, Perfumes, Quartzes, Raisins, Safflower, Salt, Slaves,
Sulphur, Terebinth, Textiles, Timber, Tortoise Shell, Wine, Woad, Wool