Maritime Loan In Ancient Greece

Maritime loan, which is an unavoidable aspect in the research into the economic history of Ancient Greece, was the major method of financing maritime trade. The paper, which consists of four parts, mainly describes the operating process and the impacts of it on the basis of original literature.The first part is the preface. In it the thesis is defined and the research survey both at home and abroad is reviewed. It also explains the method of dealing with the historical materials.The second part is to introduce the development of maritime loan. In classical Greece, it undergoes two phases, namely general loan and bottomry. The causes of their development are also analyzed briefly.The third part is the depiction of the operation. Most maritime loans consist of 4 steps: contact, the making of the agreement, preservation of the agreement, implementation of the agreement, and settlement of the dispute, if any.The fourth part is the comment. Firstly, the paper analyzes why it prevails in Athens in the 4th century. Externally, Athens possesses ascendant geographical situation and excellent ports; the social circumstances redound to the development. Secondly, the paper also analyzes its impacts. From the economic aspect, it ensures the supply of the necessities of the Greek city states, and it is the germination of modern marine insurance; from the aspect of social consciousness, it changes Greek's monetary concept and boosts their idea of going outwards; from the legal aspect, the credit in commerce was born from it.