The Ptolemaic Egypt's Economic System During The Hellenistic Period

The economic system of the Hellenistic period was far-reaching, complex, and involved. Particularly, Ptolemaic Egypt has been noted as having the greatest bureaucracy the world had seen up to date, laying foundations for models used in economies to come (Tarn, 208). Hellenistic economy was the first of its kind to be focused on international trade rather than domestic, with the evolution of trade systems between the Ptolemies, the Seleucids, and the surrounding areas (lecture notes, October 4, 2016). A focus on the Ptolemaic economic system is important as it had influence over the states during the time period. This system was founded under the nationalization of goods, with much government influence over the production and trade of goods (Tarn, 178). Together with the fertile land of the Nile, the use of foreign slaves, and the extensive trade systems of the kingdom, the Ptolemaic government were able to

The system of bureaucracy seen in Ptolemaic Egypt was impossible in the Seleucid nation, as it did not have a homologous population (lecture notes, September 20, 2016). Instead, it was comprised of many different populations with localized governments giving the people more autonomy. The Seleucid government was less rigid, had less land control, and placed an increased amount of trust in the leaders of each province area. Each province was able to have its own legal system and political system, with the only central laws surrounding taxation to the Seleucid government and a definitive exchange rate for the differing currencies (lecture notes, September 20, 2016). This combined with the infertility of the land when compared to Ptolemaic Egypt, contributed the Seleucid empire being ultimately second to the Ptolemies in terms of economics during the Hellenistic