Economy

The inhabitants of the Greek poleis lived on trade and craftwork.

• Craftwork: They made and exported ceramics, things made of leather and fabrics.
• Commerce: This was the most important economic activity. It included craftsmen, farmers selling their crops, and small shops selling all necessities. Some merchants were very rich and powerful; they had boats and traveled all over the Mediterranean. They sold Greek products and bought food, wood and copper. They used silver coins  called "dracmas", in fact, the first coins in the world were Greek.
  

People in the countryside were poor and worked in agriculture and farming. They cultivate the Mediterranean triad, i.e. vines, wheat and olive trees.