page_title: Economy of ancient Greece
section_title: Crafts
hierarchical_section_title: Economy of ancient Greece / Crafts
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Lécythe attique à figures rouges. Femme tirant de la laine d'un kalathos. Provenant de Tanagra, vers 480-470 av. J.-C. Musée national archéologique d'Athènes, n°1343. English: Woman pulling wool from a kalathos. Attic red-figure lekythos, ca. 480-470 BC. From Tanagra. National Archaeological Museum in Athens, 1343.
context_page_description: The economy of ancient Greece was defined largely by the region's dependence on imported goods. As a result of the poor quality of Greece's soil, agricultural trade was of particular importance. The impact of limited crop production was somewhat offset by Greece's paramount location, as its position in the Mediterranean gave its provinces control over some of Egypt's most crucial seaports and trade routes. Beginning in the 6th century BC, trade craftsmanship and commerce, principally maritime, became pivotal aspects of Greek economic output.
context_section_description: Much of the craftsmanship of ancient Greece was part southern west of the domestic sphere. However, the situation gradually changed between the 8th and 4th centuries BC, with the increased commercialization of the Greek economy. Thus, weaving and baking, activities so important to the Western late medieval economy, were done only by women before the 6th century BC. After the growth of commerce, slaves started to be used widely in workshops. Only fine dyed tissues, like those made with Tyrian purple, were created in workshops. On the other hand, working with metal, leather, wood, or clay was a specialized activity that was looked down upon by most Greeks.
  The basic workshop was often family-operated. Lysias's shield manufacture employed 350 slaves; Demosthenes' father, a maker of swords, used 32. After the death of Pericles in 429 BC, a new class emerged: that of the wealthy owners and managers of workshops. Examples include Cleon and Anytus, noted tannery owners, and Kleophon, whose factory produced lyres.
  Non-slave workers were paid by assignment since the workshops could not guarantee regular work. In Athens, those who worked on state projects were paid one drachma per day, no matter what craft they practised. The workday generally began at sunrise and ended in the afternoon.
caption: Woman working with wool, 481110-471110 BC, National Archaeological Museum of Athens
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