Currency values and etc.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

So don't go saying modern money sucks, or try working as a soldier for 2$ per day

There are places in modern world where 2$ a day is a lot of money.

[Hax]

Have you also taken in mind natural inflation?

[Watchman]

Plus if we're talking about the citizen-hoplites here that's not so much a wage as a compensation for the "day work" they're not doing while under arms.

[Maion Maroneios]

There are places in modern world where 2$ a day is a lot of money.

Well, I was joking you know. I know there are people in this world, that sadly enough work with an even less daily wage.

Have you also taken in mind natural inflation?

I think you mean plain inflation. Natural inflation has to do with Physics. And nope, as it's quite difficult (corrected this part, got to sharpen my wits from now). I just have taken account of how much silver is worth in modern US dollars.

Plus if we're talking about the citizen-hoplites here that's not so much a wage as a compensation for the "day work" they're not doing while under arms.

Well, in any case Thoukydides states they where paid 1 drachme per day. If that was a fixed salary or just an extra as a compensation, as you stated, I do not know.

Maion

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

There was a whole lot less silver on the world market in 272BC.

[Nirvanish]

This reminds me of the list of the top ten richest people in history which I ran across a year or so ago. Surprisingly if I remember correctly our good friend Marcus Licinius Crassus was something like 7th on the list.

[Subotan]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...orical_figures

[Maion Maroneios]

There was a whole lot less silver on the world market in 272BC.

True, that's why we can't really make a comparison with ancient times. You see, in modern standards, the salary for an Athenian hoplite would be the equivalent of the salary a good-ranked soldier would get in a developed country. You see, during the Classical Era (when Thoukydides wrote about the payment of Athenian hoplites), Athens was known to be one of the wealthiest powers in the world. I remember a source I once dug up from my old books that a common Athenian those days got more grain (see it like a currency that time) than a common citizen of the previously advanced Egyptian Kingdom (then still ruled by Pharaohs) and later Roman Empire.

So basically they got good payment. They certainly didn't complain about it, now did they? Inflation and all are get into account up to some degree, but we cannot really make a comparison between ancient and modern times in terms of economy, since it's a matter highly complicated and constantly shifting. Plus, there were different priorities in life then. No shopping therapy, no super markets, no large malls where you can enjoy every aspect of modern civilization.

Also, today's economy is almost purely driven upon people's appreciation of something. I mean, why does a pair of jeans of X (very famous and loved, like Levi's) brand cost like 5 times more than a pair of jeans of Y (less famous and loved, like Crispi) brand? Because the former brand is more appreciated. What if it's the exact same cloth and quality? They just don't care. You like it very much? You gotta put your hand deep into your pockets

Maion

[satalexton]

so if i wanted to buy some silk from Sinae, would i have to sell my estate and slaves? ._.