6 “Utility” and the Afterlife of the Natural History

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents v
3. Preface vii
4. Introduction 1
5. 1 Proxies for Economic Performance in the Roman Empire 8
6. 2 Pliny’s Purpose, Audience, and Method 32
7. 3 Parens Natura and Smithian Growth 48
8. 4 Innovation and Economic Growth in the Natural History 60
9. 5 Pliny’s Economic Observations and Reasoning 84
10. 6 “Utility” and the Afterlife of the Natural History 114
11. Conclusion 133
12. Latin Texts 139
13. Notes 149
14. Bibliography 177
15. Index 191