Agriculture, Trade and Crafts

Question 1

the lower classes

Answer 1

between 80-90% of people were involved in production, processing, transport of agricultural produce. farm-work was heavy and not very productive. stock keeping was practice at farms in the Mediterranean area. most major building projects in the peaceful times were financed by the regular high profits of the landowners.
many city-dwellers were craftsmen who were self-employed. there were only few major workshops and the craftsmen were united in guilds. they had no political power. collegia had many social and religious functions.
many groups of people worked in the rural areas. there were great differences between the rural areas in individual provinces were the former conditions still prevailed. debts were a serious problem.

Question 2

trade

Answer 2

most trade was retail trade at local markets. long-distance trade was common too. chief commodities were metals, artisanal products, articles of high value.
while it was very safe to travel the romans still preferred to travel in convoys and caravans. paved highways made moving much easier and faster.

Question 3

work and status

Answer 3

the social class one belonged to was far more important and influential to ones status than the work one did. 
slaves -> small-time traders -> craftsmen -> small farmers -> landowners.

Question 4

women in the empire

Answer 4

not much is known of the women in the lower classes. artisanal and agricultural tasks were traditionally divided between the genders.
loose alliances took the place of marriages. women married at an early age but divorce was quite common.
a woman was allowed to own property in her own right but it was managed by somebody else. incase of a divorce the dowry was returned.
women of the higher classes supervised slaves in their work and accompanied their husbands to events.
women in higher classes had no political say but they did enjoy a good primary and secondary education. they could only go to school as long as they were not married.
a noble roman woman had more freedom of movement and rights than their greek counterparts.