Why Greece?
What is the dark secret of ancient Greece? The Greeks invented money, and money brought with it an entirely new way of living that made Greece, one of the most dynamic civilisations the world has ever seen. This great revolution is the subject of my new book which I am writing in my semi-retirement.
I start by looking at the Minoans, the ancestors of the Greeks, who were typical of the great empires that came before money. Their lives were centred round the palace, and the people worked as serfs for the ruler. It was a totalitarian state.
The Greeks were entirely different. There are no palaces in their towns, but instead they were centred around the marketplace, and this is the secret of the Greek revolution, for people were no longer serfs, but could come together and buy and sell and then go on to discover all the benefits of freedom and the excitement of ruling themselves, which they called democracy.
I then go up and study the Romans who took the Greek ideals and turn them into a great Empire. The Romans built up their republic by offering their allies very favourable terms, and as their empire expanded they brought the benefits of the market economy to their widespread provinces.
My book is nearly complete and will be published in full colour