Which products were controlled by the Ptolemaic government?

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The Ptolemaic government exercised extensive control over the Egyptian economy to ensure the kingdom's wealth. While the land technically remained under royal ownership, the state regulated the manufacture and marketing of nearly all essential commodities.12

Specifically, the government maintained strict oversight of the production and sale of the following key products:

This control was formalized through a detailed set of revenue laws, most notably those promulgated under Ptolemy II Philadelphus, which mandated that officials monitor the production of these goods. Additionally, the monarchy maintained a closed monetary system, permitting only royal coinage to circulate, which allowed the state to regulate financial transactions and trade from the top down.12