ROMAN TRADE AND COMMERCE

• Later on people realized how important the asset of trading was

• Was driving force behind the success of Roman economy during late Republic and early Empire ages

• The Empire began to cost a vast sum of money to run and trade was the one thing that brought in that much money
• Ancient Rome commanded a vast area of land with many natural and human resources

• Economy focused on farming and small trade

TRADE

• As Rome grew, it sucked in more products from across the globe
• Established new patterns of supply and demand

• Merchant ships had traveled across the Mediterranean for millenia

• Wasn't until second century AD trade grew to a peak under Roman rule that wasn't to be reached again for more than thousands of years

• The ability to make profit wasn't considered a virtue in Ancient Rome
• Trading and selling thought of as distasteful and not activities of proper Romans

COMMERCE

SHOPPING

JEOPARDY!!

https://www.superteachertools.net/jeopardyx/jeopardy-review-game.php?gamefile=1420595724#.VKyZGSvF-Sp

• Merchants sold their wares as primarily means of making a living
• Could also act solely as middlemen

• Land ownership and agriculture were highly regarded as a source of wealth and status,
• Commerce and manufacturing seen as a less noble pursuit for the well-off

• Members of the Roman senate and their families prohibited from engaging in trade, but those of Equestrian order were involved in business

• Buys goods and sells them to retailers
• Completely divorced from production

• Profit was the goal of these sales

Roman Forum

• Plebeians and freedman held market shop stalls while slaves did most of the work
• Slaves themselves were also the subject of commercial transactions

Forum Cuppedinis

• Major center for shopping throughout much of Roman history
• Various markets in and around area were dedicated and renovated by various emperors

COINS

• Made trading easy by using only one currency
• Introduced earliest coins during imperial period

• Previously bartering was means of exchange

ROADS

• Called Denarius and made out of pure silver
• Later on, both gold and silver coins were traded, based on metal value rather than value invested from imperial authority

• Market located beside the river, so deliveries could be made by water directly to larger stores

• One of the main reasons why trade during the Roman era was so wide-ranging

• Built for both trade and to improve the Roman army's mobility
• Roads were built all over Italy, and this allowed traveling to be quicker, hence encouraging long distance trades

Roman Republic traded with the Chinese over the Silk Road

SEA ROUTES

Grain Dole

• Romans used round hulled sailing ships for trading/commerce

• Grain was most important to Rome, so much that its importation was government regulated
• One of the benefits in living in Rome was having access to free wheat

• This method was successful because of the continuous Mediterranean "police" protection
• Used to transport goods over long distances; ones that couldn't be done by land
• Bulky low valued commodities;

IMPORTED GOODS

Papyrus, linen - Egypt

Wheat - Sicily and Egypt

< Grain

< Construction materials

Wine, honey, marble - Greece and Asia Minor

• Valuable political tool for emperor, preserved his popularity within the city
• Had access to constant grain source as its imports from Egypt were well regulated

Textiles, jewels - Syria

Wool, pottery - Gaul

Tin, wood, lead - Britain

• Other sections of Rome facilitated trade; certain streets were known for their shops

EXPORTED GOODS

Mainly olive oil and wine

• At least 4 other large markets specialized in specific goods such as cattle, wine, fish, and vegetables but the Roman Forum drew in the bulk of traffic

Vicus Tuscas

"Tuscan Street"

"Etruscan Street"

• Hub of Roman commerce
• Variety of stores on both sides such as booksellers, markets, restaurants
• Different wares for sale

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

• Products typically shipped in pottery containers

• Romans did what they could to make sea journeys safe

• Safe harbors

• Lighthouses

• Docks

• Connections between elite families across borders were the dominant force behind earliest Roman international trade

• This method was risky due to uncertain weather conditions and theft from piracy
• Restricted between November and March, as this period was seen as too unpredictable for safe passage

• Pompey's campaign against piracy made trading by sea safer

• Navigable rivers were extensively used and some canals were used

OSTIA

• Conducted explicitly to make sea commerce secure

• Major mechanism of trade expansion was peace, especially since the smaller cities could be located in economically rational positions

• Most important port because major port to Rome itself
• Situated at mouth of Tiber river 15 miles from Rome
• Many ships traveled between Ostia and Carthage
• They also came from other parts of Europe, such as Spain and France

• Mainly middlemen participated in international trade; most willing to buy and sell goods in faraway locations

• Two types of traders

1. Mercatores

• Merchants who traded specific goods
• Usually plebeians or freedmen
• Present in all open-air markets, manning stalls, or covered shops by side of the road

NEW CITIES

• All new cities, like Timgad, were laid out according to an orthogonal grid plan which facilitated transportation and commerce
• Cities connected by good roads

• Always near military camps during campaigns, sold goods and clothing to the soldiers
• Paid cash for any booty coming from military activities

• All their goods could quickly be moved to Rome
• Taken in barges to the city up Tiber River after slaves had transferred the products from merchant ships

• Mercury, God of the Mercatores and grain trade eventually became god of all involved in commercial activities

• Roman merchants would do proper rituals of devotion to him
• Would ask him to remove he guilt coming from all the cheating done to their customers and suppliers

• This also made Rome vulnerable, as later on Alaric the Great would capture Ostia knowing it would starve them of food
• Played a large part in the downfall of Rome

2. Negotiators

• Agents of trading companies

• Representatives of larger organizations

• Active members of groups of investors

• Part of bankers because they lent money on interest
• Bought/sold staples in bulk and did commerce in wholesale quantities
• Traded more general products

• Kept strict books (tabulae), which were considered legal proof by the courts

ROMAN TRADE AND COMMERCE

SHARLEEN GONG