Peace and its correlates in the ancient world

In this paper, we construct and analyze a database of warfare around the Mediterranean from 600 to 30 BCE. We provide the first in-depth statistical summary of war in this period, examining variation across space, time, and belligerents. Then we evaluate two main explanations for international peace: democracy and hegemony, using both statistical analyses and case study comparisons. We find no democratic peace among Ancient Greek city-states and mixed results, both inside and outside of Greece, about how war relates to state power. Broadly, our results challenge prominent political theories of peace and suggest more exploration of alternatives.