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Geoponica: 'Farm Work' or 'Agricultural Pursuits.' A Modern Translation from the Tenth-Century Greek
Geoponica 'Farm Work' or 'Agricultural Pursuits' A Modern Translation from the TenthCentury Greek Author:Andrew Dalby Geoponica is one of the most celebrated texts to come out of the Byzantine Renaissance, promoted by the 10th-century emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. It is a compilation of many classical and post-classical agricultural works, from those of Pliny in Ancient Rome, to Vindonius Anatolius in the 4th Century and Cassianus Bassus in the 7th C... more »entury. Many of the works no longer survive, making the Geoponica all the more valuable. It is a source both for ancient Roman agricultural practice in the West, and for understanding Near Eastern agriculture as well as that of Byzantine Anatolia. It was once translated into English, in the early 19th century, but has usually only been accessible to scholars of Greek. The history of the manuscript is extremely complicated. Andrew Dalby provides a modern and intelligent translation. He does not explore in any detail textual and linguistic matters, wishing to concentrate on questions of agriculture and food production. This will be an essential tool for students of the classical and medieval worlds.« less