Roman Economy
Rome gained huge economic power through its position as the largest trade center in the ancient world. Goods poured into the city from beyond the lands of the empire and within it. For every new province Rome conquered, a new trading partner was born. Since the new province also gained trading partners, everyone enjoyed a better standard of living.
Roman People didn't just buy things that were made locally, they also traded! They traded with many countries. Including, Britain, France, Spain, Ukraine and many more. There were others too but its important to know what Rome produced from their farmers and what they exported. Rome traded a lot of things with other countries. Rome exported olive oil, wine, bricks to other countries such as East Mediterranean, China, India and others. Below is the list that Roman people traded to and what they got from them:
Britain: tin
France: timber, wool
Spain: lead, silver, copper
Mediterranean: glass
Greece : marble
Africa : wheat and ivory
Ukraine : gold
China : silk
India : spices, cotton, jewels
Egypt : grain, papyrus
East Mediterranean : glass
Rome gained huge economic power through its position as the largest trade center in the ancient world. Goods poured into the city from beyond the lands of the empire and within it. For every new province Rome conquered, a new trading partner was born. Since the new province also gained trading partners, everyone enjoyed a better standard of living.
Roman People didn't just buy things that were made locally, they also traded! They traded with many countries. Including, Britain, France, Spain, Ukraine and many more. There were others too but its important to know what Rome produced from their farmers and what they exported. Rome traded a lot of things with other countries. Rome exported olive oil, wine, bricks to other countries such as East Mediterranean, China, India and others. Below is the list that Roman people traded to and what they got from them:
Britain: tin
France: timber, wool
Spain: lead, silver, copper
Mediterranean: glass
Greece : marble
Africa : wheat and ivory
Ukraine : gold
China : silk
India : spices, cotton, jewels
Egypt : grain, papyrus
East Mediterranean : glass
Farming
Most people in the Roman world were farmers. Some farmers were slaves, but most of the were free. Most Romans were either a warrior, a magistrate, or a farmer - with slaves to do all the work. They, the Roman farmers, mostly sold what they grew in the market in town, and bought food from the market to eat. Roman farmers paid their taxes to the government, partly with food, some part with money. Roman farmers used the money they got from selling their crops to buy clothing, furniture and tools. Some farmers lived in small villages, others lived in bigger towns. Everyday, the farmers walked to their fields from their houses. In villages people lived in mud-brick apartment building with courtyards and did their cooking in the courtyards. Roman people who lived in towns had small apartments, no courtyards, and no kitchens! Can you believe that? Nowadays, everybody has a kitchen. So most people bought their foods from the markets.
Rich people and their slaves lived in towns. Some people owned a lot of land, so they rented it to poorer farmers, or made their slaves farm it. A few rich people ran businesses making clothing or tools in factories.
Other poorer men in the towns taught in school, or were doctors. Others carried water, ran bakeries, or begged. Women in towns sold things in the stores in the markets, either did spinning or embroidery, or also begged. Women usually didn't teach in schools.
Farming was one of the Romans most important industries. Although basic farming methods changed over the centuries, the Romans developed many ways to make farming more efficient and productive. Romans introduced these ideas all over the entire empire and took better equipment to other countries like Britain. They also spread new crops through the empire.
Around the farm
Roman Coinage
Roman coins were first made in the middle of the 3rd century BCE in Italy and continued to be minted for another eight centuries later on in the empire. Early Roman coins didn't have pictures of people on the front. The first to do so was in 197 BCE to honor the memory of the victory of Titus Quinctius Flaminus over the Macedonians. Portraits on the coins disappeared again until the time of Julius Caesar. Now, all the coins have a portrait of the emperor on the front.
Most people in the Roman world were farmers. Some farmers were slaves, but most of the were free. Most Romans were either a warrior, a magistrate, or a farmer - with slaves to do all the work. They, the Roman farmers, mostly sold what they grew in the market in town, and bought food from the market to eat. Roman farmers paid their taxes to the government, partly with food, some part with money. Roman farmers used the money they got from selling their crops to buy clothing, furniture and tools. Some farmers lived in small villages, others lived in bigger towns. Everyday, the farmers walked to their fields from their houses. In villages people lived in mud-brick apartment building with courtyards and did their cooking in the courtyards. Roman people who lived in towns had small apartments, no courtyards, and no kitchens! Can you believe that? Nowadays, everybody has a kitchen. So most people bought their foods from the markets.
Rich people and their slaves lived in towns. Some people owned a lot of land, so they rented it to poorer farmers, or made their slaves farm it. A few rich people ran businesses making clothing or tools in factories.
Other poorer men in the towns taught in school, or were doctors. Others carried water, ran bakeries, or begged. Women in towns sold things in the stores in the markets, either did spinning or embroidery, or also begged. Women usually didn't teach in schools.
Farming was one of the Romans most important industries. Although basic farming methods changed over the centuries, the Romans developed many ways to make farming more efficient and productive. Romans introduced these ideas all over the entire empire and took better equipment to other countries like Britain. They also spread new crops through the empire.
Around the farm
- the ground had to be tuned over before seeds were planted
- the most important working animal was the ox
- seeds were sown in autumn, and again in spring if needed
- olive oil stored in jars buried in the ground is used for a form of soap,in cooking, and as fuel for lamps
- most farms had a small vineyard for growing grapes, and a grape press
- on the threshing floor, horses were driven over grain to prepare it for grinding into flour
- donkeys and mules were used to pull carts and carry heavy loads
- the grain is then milled to make flour for bread
- pigeons were a common dish so most farmers kept them in dovecotes for food in the winter
- honey was the only form of sweetening available to the Romans, so they kept bees
- horses were rarely used as farm animals, though they were bred for the army
- cattle were also used for working, and kept less often for milk or meat
- many kinds of vegetables and fruit including cabbages, lettuces, radishes, carrots, leeks, beans, onions, fig, pears, and apples are grown on the plots
- chickens, ducks, and geese are kept in large numbers , around 200, for their eggs and meat
- sheep were kept for their wool and milk
- sheep's milk was a very popular drink
- goats gave milk, and their hair was used to make rope and sacks
Roman Coinage
Roman coins were first made in the middle of the 3rd century BCE in Italy and continued to be minted for another eight centuries later on in the empire. Early Roman coins didn't have pictures of people on the front. The first to do so was in 197 BCE to honor the memory of the victory of Titus Quinctius Flaminus over the Macedonians. Portraits on the coins disappeared again until the time of Julius Caesar. Now, all the coins have a portrait of the emperor on the front.
Roman Currency
Roman Currency for most of Roman history consisted of gold, silver, bronze , and copper coinage . From its introduction to the Republic, during the third century BC, well into Imperial times, Roman currency saw many changes in form, denomination, and composition. A persistent feature was the inflationary debasement and replacement of coins over the centuries. Notable examples of this followed the reforms of Diocletian . This trend continued into Byzantine times.
Roman Currency for most of Roman history consisted of gold, silver, bronze , and copper coinage . From its introduction to the Republic, during the third century BC, well into Imperial times, Roman currency saw many changes in form, denomination, and composition. A persistent feature was the inflationary debasement and replacement of coins over the centuries. Notable examples of this followed the reforms of Diocletian . This trend continued into Byzantine times.