Details
This new history of Hellenistic Egypt does not, like many others provide a political narrative, but instead a detailed analysis of Ptolemaic institutions, looking at the nature and development of the state and the exercise of power, as well as the functioning of the economy. Manning shows that Ptolemaic Egypt became a hybrid state, drawing on Greek fiscal ideas, but retaining much of Egyptian social structure, including of course the institution of pharoah. He argues that in this way the Ptolemies ruled through Egyptian society rather than over it.