Periodic markets are institutions of crucial importance in all preindustrialeconomies. Yet the subject has been given little attention by Romanhistorians. The a... » 

Periodic markets are institutions of crucial importance in all preindustrialeconomies. Yet the subject has been given little attention by Romanhistorians. The aim of this book is to remedy this state of affairs through anempirewide study of annual biannual monthly and weekly markets. Themethod used involves the interpretation of the ancient evidence in terms ofeconomic and anthropological theory and against the background of comparativedata. Dr de Ligt starts by demonstrating the continued importance of local andregional fairs throughout the imperial period. Special attention is devoted tothe role of both annual fairs and highfrequency periodic markets in the ruraleconomy. In the second half of the book the scope of the discussion is extendedto social and political aspects. Finally the book addresses such topics asurban resistance towards neighbouring rural markets and the widespread practiceof waiving customs duties for the duration of largescale religious festivals. «