Ancient Roman Business
What kinds of businesses were successful in ancient Rome?
- Barber shops was a very successful business
- Barber shops were not only used to cut your hair but to get your nails painted and a dentistry
- Roman slaves were a large part of business in Rome because slave owners on farms would go into the forum and trade their crops
Types of Roman Businessmen
Luxury Trade
- There were two types of businessmen in Rome, the negotiatores and the mercatores
- The negotiatores were part bankers because they lent money to other people and charged interest.
- The mercatores were people who worked in covered shops or open air markets. They also sold food and clothing to Roman soldiers.
- Luxury products in ancient Rome include ivory, silk, and spices
- Ivory was imported from China and Africa
- Ancient Rome exported grain and pearls to many nearby countries
The Monetary System
- The currency used for the Romans were coins that had value that was usually made from precious metals
- Also since gold and silver were also accepted currency for the all of the empire, it was easy for merchants to trade throughout the empire
The Roman Forum
The part of a Roman town where trade was most popular was the Roman Forum. Most roman cities had forums where cattle,wine,fish,herbs, and vegetables were traded among citizens.
The Mediterranean Sea
How Does Ancient Roman business compare to Modern Business?
- The Mediterranean Sea was key for Roman business
- Romans could trade to almost anywhere in Europe and places in Africa
Work Cited
Roman Conquest
Haywood, John. Economic and Society of the roman empire. Historical Atlas of the Classical World. N.p.: Barnes and Noble Inc., n.d. N. pag. Print.
- Ancient Roman business compares to modern business because they both have a market economy, which is similar to a modern day capitalistic economy
- Romans also gave loans to people and charged interest
History Learning Site. History Learning Site, June 2013. Web. 3 Mar. 2014. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/ancient_rome_and_trade.htm>.
- As the Romans conquered more land more business opportunities came about
- Merchants and businessmen would go to the newly conquered territories and trade to make more money
Info Barrel. Hinzie Media inc., 18 July 2012. Web. 3 Mar. 2014. <http://www.infobarrel.com/business_in_ancient_rome>.