Economy of Athens

Compared to Grecian economy today, ancient Athenian economy was very good. Athenian economy was and is still based on mostly trade. In ancient times, Greece started trading pork and cheese from Sicily, perfumes from Arabia, glass, barley and wheat from Egypt, rugs from Carthage and ivory from Ethiopia. Greece would give these countries olives, olive oil, jewelry, pottery, fresh-water fish and wine in return. Later on in the seventh century BC, the first coins similar to modern coins were born. Small pieces of metal with weight and value were set and the impression of an official seal with the mark of who issued the warrant and its value were made. These minted silver coins were designed in Greece and Lydia, and were designed as small oval ingots of an alloy made of gold and silver called electrum. This type of ancient Greek money reflected the mentality of a people and their times. They were observed as political, economical, technological and cultural currency. Impressions found on coins, like we have today, showed important people of those countries. Probably the first historical figure to have recorded on currency was Alexander the Great of Macedonia, around the year 330 BC.

Today, Grecian economy is ranked 119th worldwide and has an economy point average of 55.7. It has been characterized between a "moderately free" and "mostly unfree" economy. Greece's highest economy score was about 63 in 2010 and since then, it has declined. Although Greece does not have the best economy right now, it still has one of the best trading ports in the Mediterranean, even after all these millennia.

Even though present day Grecian economy is not as good as ancient Athenian economy, Greece still holds the title for one of the most efficient and most popular ports of the Mediterranean.