My theory, I work on many years, support that THERE IS A KIND OF CONTINUITY
between a modern economist and an economist in ancient times (mainly from
Greece) and I have proved this on my research work on ancient economic
history.
One of the first mension about the profession of ECONOMIST is in Ilias of
Homerus (Pelasgian Economists, page 11 and page 45).
It is not correct that "economists" in ancient Greeks means "OIKO" + "NOMOS"
each word has many meaning. The ancient Greeks had many words about the
meaning of "economist" depending of the specialization of their work and/or
the place of their job.
Economist was a general idea, but also the word "tamias" used and many many
other... such as "marpo", "marigo", "fiskos", "makririon", "maro", "ziko",
"mahai" etc. Also the idea of economists can be found in Linear B...
Furthermore the ancient economists invent the coins and the first coin on
earth was the golden TALANDUM and was refered by nonnos in Dionysiaca in two
points (Thagetian Economists, page 29-30).
Two ingots treasure from the banks of Pactolos (Nonnos, Dionysiaca XXXVII
129, page 45, Loeb Classical Library).
and
A sicilian groom displayed two ingots of gold (Nonnos, Dionysiaca XXXVII
482-485, page 71, Loeb Classical Library).
The great philosopher Aristotle writes many theories on Economics,
including economic planning and growth, in his work.
Aristotle used the work ECONOMIST and ECONOMICS, also there
are some scripts with the title "Oeconomica" written by him or by his
students.
There were also many economists (more than 300) on Alexander the
Great campaign some of them are:
1. Ktisias, work "Tax in Asia" (Technical of Alexander the Great, p. 257).
2. Xenokles, works, "Government Planning" (Technical of Alexander
the Great, p. 263).
3. Xenocrates, works "About Richmanhood", "Economics",
"Logistics", etc (Technical of Alexander the Great, p. 263).
4. Many economists can be found in the period of Alexander the Great (a list
of about 300 in Economics of Alexander the Great, p. 447-556).
In ancient hellenic scripts there are about 430 works about economics.
Many of them use the word "economist".
Also, Socrates (4 B.C.) said (see Ancient and Modern Slavery, page 64, 1997)
that "we call by the term <economy> the science which has as purpuse to help
the people to increase their revenue" (Ancient Greek text <Xenofon,
Economics VI.4> oukoun, Socratis, epistimis men tinos edoxe imin onoma einai
i OIKONOMIA i de epistimi auti efeneto i oikous dinate auxein anthopi).
If you read the term "Economy" in any University around the word you will
read the Socrates talks. I think that the ancient text are more near the
reallity of their period.
By the way we all know the famous "VAT taxes". Do you know that this kind
of tax have been invented by an economist of Alexander the Great? We read at
"Economics of Alexander the Great" (page 302-304) that Lygdamis from the
island Naxos invent the VAT tax (Value added tax) according to Aristotelis
(1346b, 30-33) in the polis-state of Eyxinos-pontos during the campaign of
Alexander the Great (Economics of Alexander the Great, page 749).
Also another economist Chavrias used the VAT in many products. The same VAT
taxe used by Atheneus and was the 10% of the product or service and
collected by the taxe collectors or the banking system of that period (Bank
of Alexander the Great, page 230).
Gregory Zorzos
Economist Researcher
www.geocities.com/grzorzos
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