Land and labor in the Greek world

What value did the Greeks put on farming beyond its capacity to produce food? Who owned the land, and who worked it? What kinds of crops were cultivated, what kinds of livestock were raised, and for what purposes? In Land and Labor in the Greek World Alison Burford examines the Greeks' preoccupation with land and agriculture to understand the nature of their society and culture in general. Although agricultural methods are an important part of her study, Burford focuses on the attitudes of landowners to the land and their relationships with laborers. She shows how the need to make the land productive influenced social, economic, and cultural beliefs and practices throughout Greek society. Specific areas of study include land allotment in the early settlements, the function of the antidosis, Xenophon's true intent in his Oeconomicus, the understanding and use of the term "peasant," environmental concerns, and nationalist feelings among tied laborers.