Political structures in the ancient Greco-Roman world

The study of political organization in the ancient world and the interaction between supra-local political institutions and local communities throughout antiquity is multifaceted. It moves beyond the traditional historiographical focus on the isolated Classical city and seeks to interpret the exercise of power in its various expressions—both in the center and the peripheries of the Greek world—always beginning with the systematic study of primary sources. Current research addresses topics such as the political structure of the Achaemenid empire, particularly in relation to the Greek world (e.g., Cyprus), through the study of both Greek and non-Greek, written and non-written sources; the political organization of the Cypriot kingdoms during the Classical and early Hellenistic periods, through the study of local coinage; the political institutions of local, regional, and central authority in the Macedonian kingdom and the dynamic articulation of these three levels, especially during the Antigonid period; the complex political landscape of Thrace, involving conflict, attempts at hegemonic control, and collaboration among Thracian tribes, Greek cities, and local kingdoms; and finally, the Athenian hegemony, a phenomenon decisive for the history of the Classical period, focusing on the mechanisms of Athenian control over its hegemonic territory, local responses to Athens, and the impact of this phenomenon on the political and social life of both sides.