[History] How was order kept in Hellenistic societies?

[QuintusSertorius]

After some more reading, it would appear for scenario two the Friend would go first to the deuteroi class in Macedonia, then probably hire mercs to fill any shortfall in what he required. Could citizen-levies be raised in Macedonia?

For scenario three it would depend on where it was taking place. In Hellas or Ionia might there be courts with citizen-juries who could give judgement? Then in most other places the local satrap would perform the same role. Not sure about sentences, though.

On a more general point, what's a good read on Hellenistic society? Someone mentioned Peter Green's The Hellenistic Age in another thread, is it any good?

[Iain.]

IIRC: The scythian archers were the closest thing to a permanent police force in Athens. They were a group of state owned slaves who's main duty was to make sure that there was no-one loitering in the Agora while the Ecclesia was meeting by marking the loiterer with a rope covered in red paint.

[MButcher]

I wrote a paper that may help with this. It was about how the Ptolemy's were able to maintain control over their Egyptian subjects, and the system of courts had a section in there. In Ptolemaic Egypt at least, there was a court system in place.

One case in particular was mentioned about a dispute over the ownership of a house in Thebes. I'll see if I can upload the paper to rapidshare. If you have access to Jstore I'm sure it has a wealth of articles on the subject.

Also, Bagnall and Derow's Historical Sources in translation - the Hellenistic Period is a great source for this. Many of the papyri that have been recovered have been about some poor schmuck writing to a government official asking for justice. You can probably look through it online through google books or Amazon.

Here it is: http://rapidshare.com/files/44583354...Convention.doc

The relevant section starts on page ten.

[QuintusSertorius]

I wrote a paper that may help with this. It was about how the Ptolemy's were able to maintain control over their Egyptian subjects, and the system of courts had a section in there. In Ptolemaic Egypt at least, there was a court system in place.

One case in particular was mentioned about a dispute over the ownership of a house in Thebes. I'll see if I can upload the paper to rapidshare. If you have access to Jstore I'm sure it has a wealth of articles on the subject.

Also, Bagnall and Derow's Historical Sources in translation - the Hellenistic Period is a great source for this. Many of the papyri that have been recovered have been about some poor schmuck writing to a government official asking for justice. You can probably look through it online through google books or Amazon.

Here it is: http://rapidshare.com/files/44583354...Convention.doc

The relevant section starts on page ten.

I'll have a look at that, thanks.

I'm less interested in the primary sources as just some (summary) narrative on how it all worked.

[QuintusSertorius]

That was an interesting essay. Gives me an orientation point as the furthest integration and fusion of cultures got. I note that there were Greek and Egyptian courts for the resolution of disputes, depending on the documentation.

[Molinaargh]

Very interesting question. This would be useful information for my current AAR, it's been very hard to keep order in the Athenian and Spartan councils...

[QuintusSertorius]

I'm reading Green's Alexander to Actium, and it seems many of the Successors liked to ape Greek structures like the council and assembly, even if they had no real power and/or were filled with picked men. As well as co-existing with whatever had been there before, like Persian and Egyptian institutions.